China imports June 2023: Lexus ES ultra dominant in market down -12.4%

The Lexus ES sells three time the volume of the #2.

Import sales in China slide -12.4% year-on-year in June to 62,055 units, leading to a H1 tally off -4.3% to 351,650. We’re on a long term negative trend here as June 2022 was already down -18.9% on the year prior and down -25.5% over H1 2022. Lexus (-4.6%) resists better than the market to snap the brands pole position for the first time this year, relegating Mercedes (-25.3%) to a distant #2. Mercedes retains the YTD top spot with a 12,000-unit advantage. BMW (-19.8%) and Porsche (-36.1%) are in difficulty whereas Land Rover (+64%) and Audi (+50.5%) are euphoric. Tesla reappears at #7 thanks to resuming sales of the Model X and S. The American manufacturer ranks #12 over H1.

Model-wise, the Lexus ES (+48.9%) surges ahead to dominate the charts head and shoulders, selling over three time the amount of the #2, another Lexus, the RX (-45%) sinking. The Mercedes GLE (-33.4%) is also in trouble at #3, as are the Porsche Cayenne (-51.6%), Mercedes S-Class (-25.2%) and Porsche Panamera (-20.3%). In contrast the Land Rover Defender (+146.4%) and Audi Q7 (+76.2%) both shine in the remainder of the Top 10.

Previous month: China imports May 2023: Audi (+74.5%) shines, Porsche places three models in Top 7

One year ago: China imports June 2022: Porsche (+28.2%), Volvo (+22%) ignore market down -18.9%

Full June 2023 Top 39 All brands and Top 156 All models below.