* See the Top 319 All-local models ranking by clicking on the title! *
As is the tradition on BSCB we pay special attention to the all-new models making their first appearance in China each month. And August 2014 has been the busiest month since we started this new monthly update over a year ago. No less than 8 new entrants, and most of them are pretty high profile models with very strong potential. More info will be added to each model shortly so be sure to check back in again.
1. Baojun 730
One of the most important launches of the year, the Baojun 730 lands directly at #26 with 12,006 sales. Assuming this is the correct figure for August (and not the addition of pre-sales occurring over a couple of months), the Baojun 730 simply delivers the strongest first month of any passenger car in China… ever. Previous best is the Hyundai Elantra Langdong at 11,613 units back in August 2012, however that wasn’t a ‘true’ first month as the model was incorporated into overall Elantra nameplate sales for a couple of months at first. The 730 is also the second best first ranking below that same Elantra Langdong (#21). Based on the Langdong’s first month vagueness, the Baojun 730 could well be the first passenger car in China to directly sell over 10,000 units for its first month.. All these records broken already, and there is a very good reason behind it.
A few months ago following my trip to remote Western China, I noted that a large part of the rural Chinese population, now getting wealthier, was upgrading from minivans to MPV in order to accommodate both a commercial use of their vehicle but also extended family transport (see Strategy: How can Chinese brands unlock their home market?). The advertising illustration above is spot on and reflects the main reason behind the booming popularity of affordable MPVs: the practicality and roominess of a large van for the price of a sedan. The Wuling Hongguang is head and shoulders above all other models in the Chinese market (let alone MPVs) so it does make sense that a model created by the same company would also be a hit.
Baojun is a relatively new low-cost brand initiated 3 years ago by the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint-venture with the 630 sedan. This sedan has been successful enough to keep the Baojun brand afloat (as opposed to Linian or Ciimo) but only crossed the 10,000 monthly sales milestones once (10,220 in December 2013) and broke into the top 50 twice since its original appearance in August 2011 (#46 in October 2012 and #49 in December 2013). So the 730 has already smashed all the brands record for its first month. The Baojun 730 debuted at the Beijing Auto Show and I reported about it at the time. According to Carnewschina, the 730 starts at 69.800 yuan and ends at 81.800 (US$11.400 – 13.300), an absolute bargain indeed and as such without real competitor as it slots below the Wuling Hongguang in terms of price.
2. Toyota Levin
A new nameplate but a familiar model, the Toyota Levin lands at #62 with 6,588 sales. This is one fine example of the counter-productive joint-venture situation in the Chinese automotive market. Toyota has two joint ventures in China: while FAW-Toyota gets the European model, supposed to look sophisticated (read boring) and aimed at older buyers, Guangzhou-Toyota gets a sporty (only in design) version of the US model, aimed at younger buyers. The engines and prices (120.000-160.000 yuan, that’s US$19.550-26.100) are exactly the same though. The new gen Corolla is currently accounted for under the general ‘Corolla’ nameplate at #16 this month.
What’s the Levin potential? Well it is already Toyota’s 4th best-selling sedan below the Corolla, Camry and Vios, all established nameplates with years of previous sales behind them. So in a way we already have a mission accomplished here, and any future milestones (a Top 50 seems assured but a Top 25 harder) will be impressive. Tycho from Carnewschina gives a pretty accurate description of this join-venture doubling up mess: “All this waste of resources and marketing money is a rather typical result of the weird joint-venture system. Volkswagen, Honda and others are also selling various cars manufactured by their various joint ventures that are competing with each other, instead of with the competition. The Toyota marketing plan sounds like a good idea in theory.” But then a ‘sporty’ Toyota Corolla was also seen on the Toyota booth at the Beijing Auto Show. Wait wasn’t it supposed to be the sophisticated, boring one of the two?
Beijing Auto Huansu S2 and S3
Next we have two small SUVs by the same automaker, making their first appearance in the Chinese ranking exactly at the same time, along with a new sub-brand: Beijing Auto Huansu (translated as ‘magic speed’). These two SUVs are built in the city of Chongqing by Beiqi Yinxiang Automobile, a new joint-venture between Beijing Auto (Beiqi) and the Yinxiang Motorcycle Group, and as such they both sport the logo of the joint-venture and not the Beijing Auto one – confusing, as always. This joint venture also makes the new Beijing Auto Weiwang M20 mini-MPV that launched on the Chinese market last year (and yet another sub-brand!).
3. Beijing Auto Huansu S3
The Beijing Auto Huansu S3 lands directly at #85 with 5,280 sales. It is a seven-seater very affordably priced between 61.800 and 72.800 yuan (US$10.100-11.900), positioning it across the two fastest growing market segments in China: small SUVs and MPVs. As described above with the Baojun 730, many Chinese car buyers, especially young families, have discovered these segments as a preferable alternative over similarly prices sedans or hatchbacks that tend to be much smaller inside. On top of this, the Huansu S3 is one of only two mass seven-seats SUVs at this price level, competing with the FAW Daihatsu Xenia S80 (#204). In this context its current ranking is already redefining the budget 7-seat SUV sales potential, so anything frankly up like a Top 50 ranking would trigger other Chinese carmakers to follow suit very soon.
4. Beijing Auto Huansu S2
The 5-seater variant of the S3, the Beijing Auto Huansu S2 launches a little lower at #122 and 3,520 units. Price starts at an even more enticing 58.800 yuan (US$9.600) and ends at 69.800 yuan (US$11.400). While the S3 ventures into unknown (but promising) territory given its larger size, the S2 slots into a very successful segment in China, competing with the Great Wall M4 (best ranking: #23), Chery Tiggo3 (currently #28) and Changan CS35 (best: #43), all crossing the 10,000 monthly sales milestone at some stage. It might take a bit of time to establish the Beijing Auto brand in this segment but the demand is there and a Top 60 ranking within the next 12 months would be a fantastic achievement.
5. GAC Trumpchi GA3S
Not really a new model per se but worth mentioning because of its uniqueness, the GAC Trumpchi GA3S arrives in 157th position with 2,333 sales in August. It is the sporty version of the GAC Trumpchi GA3 launched 18 months ago here and currently ranking #256 with 399 units sold, after peaking at #135 and 4,041 sales last December. There. That’s why I’ve singled out the GA3S as it sold almost 6 times more than its ‘non-sporty’ version in August, which is rather unusual and extremely interesting. Guangzhou Auto has two sub-brands, each with their own logo: budget Gonow and masstige Trumpchi, one of the most impressive carmakers at the Beijing Auto Show in my view (I ranked it #4) while Gonow was one of the worst at #28… A history-making large scale product placement in Hollywood mega-budget Transformers 4 this year is starting to put GAC Trumpchi on the worldwide map and the GA3S could soon join the GS5 SUV (best ranking: #56) inside the monthly Top 100 in the coming months.
6. Kia K4
Another very important new nameplate to make its first appearance in the Chinese ranking in August is the Kia K4 at #163 with 2,094 sales. The K4 is a China-only compact sedan, Kia’s version of the very successful Hyundai Mistra that has sold over 10,000 units in China for the past 6 months without interruption after peaking at 11,749 sales last January. Even though Kia pushes the premium design cues as hard as Hyundai does in China, it is positioned slightly lower in price and as such the K4 starts lower at 128.800 yuan (US$20,990) vs. 150.000 (US$24.700) for the Mistra but both model end at 190.000 yuan (US$31.300). Other main competitors are the VW Sagitar (#4 in August), Honda CRider (personal best of #10 last December) and Citroen C4L (#70 highest). Kia sedans average around 75% of their Hyundai counterparts’ sales in China, which would place the K4 just under 100,000 annual sales and edging into the Top 50. Still far from it but it should be the benchmark for success.
7. JAC Refine S3
8. Cadillac ATS-L
Previous month: China July 2014: Focus on the all-new models
One year ago: China August 2013: Focus on the all-new models
Full August 2014 Top 319 All-local models Ranking Table below.
China August 2014 – models:
This ranking excludes imports.
Pos
Model
Aug-14
/13
Jul
2014
Pos
FY13
1
Wuling Hongguang
56,502
n/a
1
483,159
1
1
2
VW Lavida
34,763
-12%
2
332,813
2
2
3
Ford Focus
28,305
-9%
3
260,993
3
3
4
VW Sagitar
25,717
9%
5
207,989
5
6
5
Haval H6
25,710
23%
6
195,372
7
12
6
VW Santana
24,541
36%
7
211,907
4
20
7
VW Jetta
23,891
9%
4
204,099
6
7
8
Hyundai Elantra Langdong
22,982
35%
15
154,448
15
13
9
Buick Excelle
21,856
2%
9
190,046
8
4
10
VW Tiguan
21,575
27%
10
168,234
10
15
11
Hyundai Verna
21,182
36%
12
153,845
16
17
12
VW Bora
19,128
-10%
14
159,909
13
10
13
Nissan Sylphy
19,031
9%
18
179,576
9
8
14
VW Golf
17,764
135%
19
124,235
19
48
15
Chevrolet Sail
17,671
-11%
27
153,540
17
5
16
Chevrolet Cruze
17,337
-16%
8
166,702
11
9
17
Toyota Corolla
17,174
10%
13
79,181
39
27
18
VW Magotan
17,079
15%
17
143,657
18
19
19
Buick Excelle XT/GT
17,005
-6%
16
163,606
12
14
20
Audi A6L
14,760
11%
22
112,963
21
25
21
Kia K3
14,369
40%
20
109,813
22
29
22
VW Polo
14,282
12%
11
108,018
23
24
23
ChangAn Eado
13,372
110%
21
100,961
25
60
24
Nissan X-Trail
12,391
1031%
24
62,206
54
194
25
Ford Kuga
12,114
39%
31
88,789
32
53
26
Baojun 730
12,006
new
-
12,006
183
-
27
Honda CR-V
11,958
-22%
66
112,976
20
16
28
Chery Tiggo 3
11,454
57%
29
54,196
67
66
29
Toyota Camry
11,306
-24%
28
104,308
24
21
30
Hyundai ix35
11,076
-21%
30
92,856
30
23
31
BMW 5-Series L
10,772
-14%
25
93,683
29
35
32
Emgrand EC7
10,572
-20%
68
80,611
38
18
33
Kia K2
10,538
1%
33
97,901
26
28
34
Hyundai Mistra
10,462
new
34
83,944
34
191
35
Chevrolet Malibu
10,326
25%
52
74,881
41
51
36
VW Passat
10,133
-54%
26
157,511
14
11
37
Citroen C-Elysée
10,112
106%
32
81,586
35
71
38
Chana Honor
10,048
0%
51
90,927
31
59
39
Dongfeng Future
9,762
15%
41
87,609
33
43
40
BYD S6
9,425
32%
73
66,752
49
57
41
Buick Regal
9,313
30%
39
69,504
43
63
42
Dongfeng Joyear
9,238
98%
43
65,790
51
74
43
Toyota Vios
9,089
13266%
40
80,817
37
160
44
Audi Q3
8,572
44%
54
56,667
64
128
45
Honda Crider
8,549
-32%
48
97,561
27
58
46
BYD F3
8,480
77%
61
62,165
55
64
47
BMW 3-Series L
8,427
134%
42
62,642
53
86
48
Honda Fit
8,427
164%
36
35,296
107
118
49
Chery Tiggo 5
8,295
new
56
55,871
65
249
50
Peugeot 308
8,219
58%
47
59,709
60
65
51
Audi A4L
7,800
-25%
44
76,018
40
36
52
Hyundai Elantra Yuedong
7,790
-43%
35
94,786
28
22
53
Buick Encore
7,675
52%
45
55,664
66
84
54
Ford Mondeo
7,607
141%
37
68,981
44
134
55
Audi Q5
7,424
-24%
60
68,697
45
47
56
Buick LaCrosse
7,188
-22%
69
50,015
72
61
57
ChangAn CS35
7,007
39%
100
64,633
52
68
58
Skoda Octavia
6,985
-21%
59
68,044
47
38
59
Peugeot 301
6,968
new
49
50,817
71
253
60
Citroen C-Quatre
6,887
3%
64
59,932
58
49
61
Buick GL8
6,813
0%
62
57,390
63
73
62
Toyota Levin
6,588
new
-
6,588
223
-
63
Venucia R50/D50
6,559
-28%
114
67,560
48
45
64
Skoda Rapid
6,337
49%
57
53,992
68
133
65
Toyota Corolla EX
6,317
-47%
38
58,301
61
26
66
Ford Ecosport
6,300
29%
46
53,005
69
87
67
FAW Besturn X80
6,277
20%
70
48,122
74
116
68
Honda Accord
6,141
56%
80
46,858
78
39
69
Nissan Teana
6,127
-31%
65
70,074
42
44
70
Lifan X60
5,988
66%
103
38,465
96
91
71
Zotye T600
5,890
new
67
30,454
118
317
72
Toyota RAV4
5,864
46%
23
81,461
36
40
73
Toyota Highlander
5,854
-10%
58
58,274
62
55
74
Kia Sportage R
5,849
-17%
55
59,883
59
62
75
Beijing Weiwang M20
5,791
1016%
84
48,028
75
200
76
ChangAn CS75
5,772
new
71
17,053
165
-
77
Dongfeng Fengguang
5,689
56%
108
40,887
90
151
78
Chevrolet Trax
5,587
new
81
22,061
140
-
79
Haima Family
5,579
187%
106
28,909
122
147
80
Great Wall M4
5,555
-46%
82
61,856
56
31
81
Beijing Senova D50
5,500
new
107
17,163
163
-
82
Nissan Tiida
5,421
-30%
63
68,294
46
30
83
Geely King Kong
5,415
81%
72
45,309
82
114
84
Nissan Qashqai
5,400
-44%
88
61,540
57
33
85
Beijing Auto Huansu S3
5,280
new
-
5,280
240
-
86
Mitsubishi ASX
5,272
88%
131
33,509
112
132
87
Roewe 350
5,232
-36%
79
66,300
50
41
88
Citroen C4L
5,172
8%
78
44,554
84
90
89
Honda Jade
5,063
new
126
39,148
93
161
90
Ford Fiesta
5,061
10%
77
40,598
91
105
91
Peugeot 2008
5,059
new
75
21,202
144
-
92
Mazda3 Axela
4,988
new
87
17,458
161
-
93
Chery Fulwin 2
4,971
-25%
158
25,453
131
70
94
Nissan Sunny
4,932
-14%
94
41,405
88
42
95
FAW Besturn B50
4,901
-12%
85
43,045
86
82
96
Luxgen 6 SUV
4,880
new
91
12,994
177
-
97
Kia Forte Furuidi
4,874
143%
74
46,825
79
123
98
Peugeot 408
4,652
6%
112
36,877
100
93
99
Kia K5
4,588
6%
101
36,521
102
92
100
Geely GX7
4,575
36%
96
37,341
98
97
101
GAC Trumpchi GS5
4,536
6%
76
48,182
73
77
102
Toyota Yaris L
4,442
new
50
51,417
70
280
103
BMW X1
4,436
185%
102
30,301
119
174
104
Mercedes GLK
4,334
25%
95
29,222
121
120
105
Nissan Livina
4,320
-23%
104
41,181
89
75
106
VW CC
4,145
35%
92
32,247
113
117
107
Zotye Z300
4,077
-1%
130
31,847
116
88
108
Audi A3
4,063
new
139
12,369
181
-
109
ChangAn Yuexiang V3
3,969
-12%
90
48,007
76
67
110
BYD F3 Surui
3,928
-57%
109
46,916
77
34
111
Mercedes E-Klasse L
3,917
19%
99
28,368
124
130
112
Toyota Reiz
3,874
16%
110
26,400
130
79
113
Haval H2
3,859
new
184
5,119
243
-
114
Brilliance H330
3,827
-1%
83
35,150
108
165
115
Mazda6
3,747
-41%
98
43,717
85
56
116
VW Touran
3,715
13%
128
24,490
135
137
117
Honda Civic
3,652
-29%
143
35,436
105
80
118
JAC Refine
3,647
-13%
93
39,024
94
94
119
Chery E3
3,624
new
133
44,591
83
157
120
Hyundai Santa Fe
3,619
-46%
86
45,764
81
69
121
FAW Xiali N3/N5/N7
3,550
-34%
113
37,306
99
50
122
Beijing Auto Huansu S2
3,520
new
-
3,520
261
-
123
Honda Odyssey
3,502
62%
167
10,255
195
162
124
Brilliance V5
3,451
12%
137
20,678
147
107
125
Suzuki Alto
3,233
29%
142
35,409
106
89
126
Haval H5
3,219
-33%
125
34,713
109
83
127
Hyundai Sonata
3,156
-63%
111
39,417
92
46
128
Honda City
3,147
-37%
127
32,217
114
54
129
Gonow Xinglang MPV
3,100
new
117
21,079
145
248
130
Haima S5
3,075
new
89
17,965
159
-
131
Mazda CX-5
3,054
-16%
121
33,561
111
175
132
Mazda6 Atenza
3,020
new
105
12,446
180
-
133
Baojun 630
3,002
-37%
161
27,575
127
76
134
Lianhua L3
2,950
-41%
129
23,568
137
111
135
Suzuki Beidouxing
2,916
-17%
134
38,721
95
72
136
ChangAn CX20
2,902
48%
97
35,785
103
146
137
Citroen C5
2,866
-8%
136
22,510
138
121
138
Chevrolet Aveo
2,859
44%
122
17,081
164
135
139
Suzuki Swift
2,853
117%
149
24,513
134
155
140
Beijing Auto E-Series
2,800
-22%
192
46,039
80
85
141
Dongfeng Fengshan H30/S30
2,747
24%
168
31,170
117
103
142
Skoda Rapid Spaceback
2,745
new
138
10,842
194
-
143
Kia Sportage
2,716
-23%
115
28,057
126
113
144
Peugeot 508
2,715
11%
163
18,442
155
164
145
Cadillac XTS
2,700
33%
141
19,947
149
181
146
Suzuki Liana
2,699
501%
145
17,262
162
225
147
ChangAn Ouliwei
2,633
115%
157
29,425
120
176
148
Chevrolet Captiva
2,590
20%
156
24,088
136
126
149
Lifan 620
2,588
-34%
119
16,725
168
122
150
Zhongxing C3 Urban Ark
2,569
new
177
8,199
209
-
151
BYD F0
2,565
-20%
154
24,900
132
96
152
Venucia R30
2,556
new
164
4,218
253
-
153
Skoda Superb
2,550
-14%
140
19,710
150
129
154
Soueast V3 Lingyue
2,423
-34%
132
20,979
146
98
155
Suzuki S-Cross
2,366
new
153
28,775
123
285
156
ChangAn Benben Mini
2,348
40%
118
33,769
110
102
157
GAC Trumpchi GA3S
2,333
new
-
2,333
277
-
158
Chery QQ
2,256
-72%
116
36,709
101
37
159
Peugeot 3008
2,209
-37%
53
42,727
87
99
160
FAW Besturn B70
2,202
595%
147
10,174
196
232
161
Great Wall Voleex C50
2,148
-52%
120
26,552
129
78
162
Haima M3
2,134
-50%
124
37,523
97
112
163
Kia K4
2,094
new
-
2,094
280
-
164
ChangAn Yuexiang V5
2,054
-49%
144
27,394
128
100
165
Suzuki SX4
2,000
5%
208
13,653
176
145
166
JAC Refine S3
2,000
new
-
2,000
282
-
167
BYD L3
1,992
-67%
151
32,192
115
52
168
Landwind X5/X6/X8/X9
1,985
14%
150
22,501
139
178
169
Geely (Shanghai Englon) SC7
1,923
-45%
183
18,771
154
109
170
Changfeng Kingbox DUV
1,921
34%
190
11,628
185
172
171
Mercedes C-Klasse
1,874
-34%
246
21,883
142
124
172
Fiat Viaggio
1,807
81%
152
28,340
125
106
173
Lianhua L5
1,756
-38%
155
16,877
166
148
174
Dongfeng Shuai
1,695
-30%
165
19,194
153
152
175
Chery A1
1,680
75%
316
7,041
221
215
176
JAC Heyue
1,679
-7%
166
18,247
156
127
177
Geely Vision
1,641
-35%
169
15,481
170
136
178
DS 5LS
1,630
new
204
7,415
217
-
179
Hawtai Santa Fe
1,610
106%
170
9,244
201
192
180
MG 3
1,593
-53%
146
21,424
143
110
181
Zotye Z100
1,575
new
160
15,264
171
259
182
Hyundai Elantra
1,498
-52%
123
24,710
133
139
183
Geely Panda
1,491
-22%
185
16,754
167
138
184
Dongfeng Fengshan A60
1,490
10%
195
16,046
169
159
185
Hawtai Lusheng E70
1,463
850%
215
5,161
242
282
186
Fiat Ottimo
1,429
new
191
11,095
192
-
187
Lifan 720
1,424
163%
196
15,030
172
227
188
Jinbei Granse
1,423
-1%
197
7,836
212
183
189
Skoda Fabia
1,396
-19%
186
14,433
173
142
190
Geely Freedom Ship
1,392
-37%
162
12,980
178
125
191
Haima S7 Knight
1,370
-68%
173
18,185
157
115
192
Honda Crosstour
1,362
-60%
200
14,186
174
108
193
Hyundai Tucson
1,323
-69%
174
20,082
148
95
194
BYD Qin
1,316
new
194
7,773
214
337
195
Hawtai (Baolige) B35
1,314
138%
172
8,753
205
220
196
Nissan NV200
1,292
-32%
178
12,644
179
188
197
Cadillac ATS-L
1,160
new
-
1,160
298
-
198
BYD Sirui
1,159
-38%
182
6,312
227
210
199
Chery Arrizo 7
1,155
new
176
17,977
158
199
200
Chery X1
1,135
139%
239
3,952
256
201
201
Chery A3
1,103
17%
206
3,407
263
224
202
JMC Yusheng
1,102
34%
135
19,203
152
196
203
JAC Refine S5
1,092
-58%
202
19,323
151
154
204
FAW Daihatsu Xenia S80/M80
1,090
-64%
217
14,136
175
119
205
Kia Cerato
1,081
-38%
189
12,028
182
169
206
FAW Weizhi V5
1,073
-43%
187
7,863
210
167
207
Baojun Yuechi (Spark)
1,003
-64%
181
17,931
160
150
208
Skoda Yeti
995
new
199
11,540
186
262
209
Soueast V5 Lingzhi
950
-33%
203
11,419
189
140
210
Yema F12
949
114%
212
7,615
216
246
211
Ford Mondeo Classic
919
-5%
193
9,425
200
141
212
Hyundai Sonata MoInca
917
-12%
171
7,292
220
197
213
Great Wall Voleex C30
897
-90%
209
35,521
104
32
214
Soueast V6 Lingshi
850
5%
271
3,938
257
202
215
Toyota Prado
842
-57%
175
9,870
197
184
216
Toyota E’Z Yizhi
819
-46%
159
11,431
188
190
217
Jiangnan Alto
812
-52%
198
9,108
202
168
218
Lifan 530
807
new
188
7,351
219
255
219
Luxgen 7 SUV
806
-60%
223
7,025
222
180
220
Brilliance FSV
798
-59%
261
11,394
190
156
221
Toyota Crown
789
-38%
148
10,992
193
173
222
JAC Heyue A30
781
new
251
8,628
206
228
223
DS 5
774
new
256
5,967
229
291
224
MG 6
762
-30%
207
8,788
204
182
225
Peugeot 307
757
-54%
270
4,491
249
193
226
Suzuki Lingyang
725
-9%
222
8,832
203
171
227
Lifan 630
724
new
213
5,914
230
272
228
Kia Soul
716
2%
227
6,419
226
218
229
Brilliance H230
714
-86%
243
9,833
198
101
230
Gonow Saboo G3/Aoosed G5
698
244%
218
5,558
239
270
231
Zotye E20
690
new
219
2,821
270
-
232
Emgrand EC8
666
52%
284
1,789
290
216
233
BAW (Beijing) Jeep
661
26%
205
4,048
255
251
234
BYD G6
618
-69%
180
6,510
224
166
235
Chevrolet Epica
568
-40%
238
8,428
207
185
236
Roewe W5
551
-33%
220
7,778
213
213
237
Brilliance H530
550
-45%
225
5,697
237
189
238
Jonway A380
535
-32%
230
4,136
254
231
239
Mercedes Vito
534
11%
226
4,645
247
247
240
BYD M6
532
-34%
210
4,390
251
243
241
ChangAn Raeton
530
215%
224
5,782
235
238
242
Lifan 330
520
new
214
5,786
234
263
243
Mazda CX-7
509
new
179
1,837
287
-
244
Beijing Senova D70
504
-50%
265
2,706
271
217
245
JAC Heyue RS
497
-81%
221
11,952
184
149
246
Maxus G10
484
new
234</td