Singapore's top 10 car brands for 2011 so far

[Guest blackknight]

Singapore's top 10 car brands for 2011 so far

By Samuel Ee

In the first nine months of this year, the Munich-based luxury carmaker has registered 3,614 cars, or 16.9 per cent of all new cars in Singapore. That means that roughly one out of every six new cars on Singapore roads so far this year is a BMW.

Its traditional German rival, Mercedes-Benz, has also benefited from the rising cost of a COE or certificate of entitlement (see top 10 car makes gallery below).

From January to September this year, the brand with the three-pointed star has accounted for 3,051 registrations to claim the No 2 spot.

Former heavyweight Toyota is currently in No 3 position. Japan's biggest carmaker had been Singapore's most popular brand for nine consecutive years until it lost its lead in the second quarter of this year.

But its year-to-date registrations of 2,842 cars means it is likely to stay in the Top 3 for the rest of 2011, because fast moving Volkswagen with its 2,365 registrations will probably not be able to overtake it in the final three months.

Total registrations for the first nine months of this year amounted to just 21,438 passenger cars, a 36.3 per cent plunge from the 33,680 units during the same period in 2010.

The reduction in registrations is the result of cuts in the COE quota, which has also caused COE premiums to surge to 17-year highs.

The above registrations by brand are for the whole of Singapore and include both authorised imports as well as non-authorised or parallel imports (see other story). But even going by authorised distributors' sales alone, BMW remains the No 1 brand with 3,066 units from Performance Motors in the first nine months of 2011. And the mid-sized 5 Series luxury sedan is on track to be Singapore's top model, with 1,458 units registered so far this year.

Over at authorised distributor Borneo Motors Singapore, the passenger car count for Toyota is 2,469, including 502 Lexus luxury cars. The Toyota Corolla Altis continues to be the marque's best-selling model, racking up 862 units from January to September.

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Parallel imports slow down further »

Toyota is not the only heavyweight to slow down this year. Another once-popular make has also slipped down the rankings. Hyundai is currently in No 6 position with 979 registrations from January to September. But if authorised distributor Komoco Motors' 2,515 turbodiesel taxis for that period are included, the Korean brand would immediately speed up to the No 2 spot.

Total registrations for the first nine months of this year amounted to just 21,438 passenger cars, a 36.3 per cent plunge from the 33,680 units during the same period in 2010.

This article was first published in The Business Times

[Guest manmerlion]

If the no. of service centres remain unchanged, more MB cars sold mean C&C's service standards will suffer.

[Guest lightning]

it will be good if they also show the breakdown of MB sales by AD vs PI...I believe quite a big chunk of W212 (incl E-coupe & cab) are from PI...that means the service std at PI service centres may also suffer...:hand:

as for W204...most of the sales should be thru AD :becky:

[Guest manmerlion]

More cars from PI means more biz for bro DarkAv. Huat ah!

lightning wrote:

it will be good if they also show the breakdown of MB sales by AD vs PI...I believe quite a big chunk of W212 (incl E-coupe & cab) are from PI...that means the service std at PI service centres may also suffer...:hand:

as for W204...most of the sales should be thru AD :becky:

[Guest Wes23]

We are number 2! Woohoo! Let's motivate the SE at see and see to work to be number 1!!!

[Guest arshavin]

I rather MB be outside the top 10. Because less cars will be using their current under staffs and limited spaces service centre

[Guest Wes23]

arshavin wrote:

I rather MB be outside the top 10. Because less cars will be using their current under staffs and limited spaces service centre

Skali they become number one they give out freebies? Or is it wait long long?

[Guest skid]

arshavin wrote:

I rather MB be outside the top 10. Because less cars will be using their current under staffs and limited spaces service centre

that's already happening at certain ADs...... :shocked:

[Guest vt5sport]

Wes23 wrote:

We are number 2! Woohoo! Let's motivate the SE at see and see to work to be number 1!!!

why? more cars, more service appts, more busy but same service centre, same no.of service bays. :Cry::Cry::Cry: