China imports September 2024: Range Rover (+38.7%), Lexus NX (+30.1%) defy freefalling market

The Range Rover is the fifth best-selling import in China in September.

Sales of new imports in China freefall -21.2% year-on-year in September to just 52,366 units. This leads to a year-to-date volume off -11.3% to 475,589. Brand leaders Lexus (-7.4%) and Mercedes (-8.3%) resist significantly better than the market as they keep their fall to single digits. In contrast BMW (-38.2%) and Porsche (-28.8%) both implode, ranking #3 and #4 respectively. Land Rover (-14%) holds up at #5, distancing Audi (-31.8%), Toyota (-35.7%) and Volvo (-23.3%) all performing poorly. Mitsubishi (+366.7%), Ferrari (+242.3%), Suzuki (+183.8%), Genesis (+91.2%) and Jaguar (+67.8%) all defy the weak market with sensational gains.

Model-wise, the Top 4 remains unchanged on last month, with the Lexus ES (-13.9%) far above the rest with just under 9,200 sales, ahead of the Mercedes GLE (+18.2%) in great shape. The Lexus RX (+4%) and NX (+30.1%) also shine but the best performer near the top is the Range Rover, up 38.7% year-on-year and 6 spots on last month to #5. The Land Rover Defender (-6.9%) and Porsche Cayenne (-17.9%) manage to lose less ground than the market but the Toyota Alphard (-39.1%), Porsche Panamera (-31.8%) and Volvo XC90 (-22.9%) aren’t that lucky.

Previous month: China imports August 2024: Porsche now #4 YTD, sales off -16.1%

One year ago: China imports September 2023: Lexus reclaims top spot, Toyota, Land Rover, Audi shine in market edging down -3.1%

Full September 2024 Top 41 All brands and Top 192 All models below.