Best Selling Cars Around The Globe: World April 2013 Roundup

Matt Gasnier
by Matt Gasnier

After taking you on a trip through Europe, today it’s time to get global once again as I give you the much awaited World roundup for April 2013.

Who made the worldwide headlines in April?

Hints: two Japanese and one German…

A little bit like Iron Man 3 unleashing its power into virtually all countries in the world in the same period, the 4th generation Toyota RAV4, after an 8 year-wait, is now making waves instantaneously in every corner of the globe: it is #2 in Taiwan with 5.1% share, #3 in Puerto Rico, up 16 spots on March to #4 in Norway, up to #6 in New Zealand, up 219% on April 2012 to #8 in Ukraine, up 117% to #10 in Russia, up 38% to #11 in Canada, up 41% to #15 in Australia, up 8 ranks to #16 in Poland and up 22% to #17 in the US… Talk about a multi-pronged attack!

Nissan Leaf

The biggest single event this month is arguably the 2nd place of the Nissan Leaf in Norway with 3.3% share, by far the model’s best ranking anywhere in the world, and no less than its fourth consecutive record month in Norway, after ranking #4 with 2.8% in March, #5 at 2.5% in February and #9 in January. In fact, Norway is the only country in the world where the Nissan Leaf has managed to break into the monthly Top 10!

Audi A3

Another big single event is the arrival for the very first time of the Audi A3 among the Top 10 best-sellers in Europe at #9 this month, thanks to very strong showings in Germany (, the UK ( and Switzerland (. As an aside, nother landmark for Audi in Aprid is the Q3 breaking into any monthly Top 10 for the first time and it happened in Austria ( – note also that the Q3 makes its first appearance in the Chinese ranking at as local production has now started.

Renault Duster

Along with the RAV4 and the Q3, another SUV making headlines worldwide is the Franco-Romanian Renault Duster. It lodges a third month (in the last 4) within the Russian Top 5 and stays within the Indian Top 10 for the 2nd consecutive month. Launched in January, it is already up to #12 in Ireland with almost 2% of the market, while on a Romanian note the Dacia Dokker is up to #5 in Romania and #3 in Bulgaria.

Great Wall Voleex C10

Quick update on the most successful Chinese models overseas: the Great Wall Voleex C10 is up to a best-ever #2 in Bulgaria, the Geely CK maintains itself at #2 year-to-date in Ukraine, the Chery MVM315 (aka Fulwin 2) is up to #4 in Iran and the DongFeng S30 celebrates its 5th consecutive month within the Venezuelan Top 5.

Opel Mokka

Among recent launches, the Opel Mokka is already the brand’s best-seller in Switzerland both this month ( and year-to-date ( ahead of the Astra, it is up to #29 in Germany but up to a fantastic #8 in the German private sales ranking, always a good indication of future success. The Renault Captur is up to #22 in France and #63 in Spain, the Mercedes CLA is up to #61 at home in Germany but does better in Spain where it already ranks #58

Peugeot 207 Compact

Weird development in Argentina where two decade-old models with a bit of makeup took command of the sales charts: the Peugeot 207 Compact (in fact a 206+) and the Renault Clio Mio (in fact a 1998 Clio).

Tesla Model S

In other news, after 6 consecutive months of Toyota Aqua domination the Toyota Prius is back in charge in Japan, thanks to an official sales update by Tesla we learn that the Tesla Model S is the best-selling plug-in vehicle in the USA so far 2013 ahead of the Prius and Volt, the Hyundai i30 breaks into the US Top 10 for the first time thanks to the addition of the GT hatchback version (called i30 elsewhere)…

Honda Amaze

the Honda CR-V is up to a record 4th place in China, the Fiat 500 reaches a best-ever 8th position in the UK, the Suzuki Ertiga is back to a fantastic 2nd place in Indonesia for the second time in the last 3 months and the Honda Amaze is already #13 in India.

Hyundai Maxcruz

Finally, have you met the Hyundai Maxcruz? In South Korea, the Santa Fe XL goes by a different name and appears at #37 this month.

That’s it for this month!

You’re welcome…

Oh and here is the full last 12 months’ worth of World roundups:

World March 2013 Roundup: Don’t take this the wrong way, but…

World February 2013 Roundup: Nissan Qashqai pumps up the jam

World January 2013 Roundup: Low-cost range brings Renault back

World Full Year 2012 Roundup: Last Year’s Top 5 highlights

World December 2012 Roundup: Has the Chinese invasion started?

World November 2012 Roundup: When Hyundai cracked Brazil

World October 2012 Roundup: China, Japan and Austria in focus

World September 2012 Roundup: Ford Focus shines in China

World August 2012 Roundup: Subaru XV topples almighty Golf in Switzerland

World July 2012 Roundup: Geely CK writes history in Ukraine

World June 2012 Roundup: Hyundai Santa Fe and Ford Focus shine

World May 2012 Roundup: GM and Toyota Etios make headlines

Matt Gasnier, based in Sydney, Australia, runs a blog named Best Selling Cars, dedicated to counting cars all over the world.

Matt Gasnier
Matt Gasnier

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  • Beerboy12 Beerboy12 on May 28, 2013

    The Nissan Leaf a hit in Norway, with it's super cold winters... (battery life!) Not that I am surprised at all but I guess there is a lot of practically free electricity there.

  • Beerboy12 Beerboy12 on May 28, 2013

    That Duster is just unstoppable!

  • ToolGuy This is the kind of thing you get when you give people faster internet.
  • ToolGuy North America is already the greatest country on the planet, and I have learned to be careful about what I wish for in terms of making changes. I mean, if Greenland wants to buy JDM vehicles, isn't that for the Danes to decide?
  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
  • Carson D The UAW has succeeded in organizing a US VW plant before. There's a reason they don't teach history in the schools any longer. People wouldn't make the same mistakes.
  • B-BodyBuick84 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport of course, a 7 seater, 2.4 turbo-diesel I4 BOF SUV with Super-Select 4WD, centre and rear locking diffs standard of course.
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