Best Selling Cars Around The Globe: World January 2013 Roundup: Low-cost Range Brings Renault Back

Let me just interrupt my 'what the XXX bought in 2012′ series (we've been to China, Europe, Russia, India, Israel, Italia and Indonesia already), to give you my Roundup of world car sales for January 2013…

Not interested? That's fine, I'm started to get used to you fickle crowd, and that's why I have prepared the best-selling models and brands in 172 additional countries and territories on my blog for you. Enjoy!

Back to our World Roundup… Last month all the spotlights were on Chinese models with 3 of them topping in the lead in Bulgaria, Venezuela and Ukraine… In January we focus on Renault, Volvo and… well China again but through the exceptional performance of the VW Lavida…

Dacia Sandero

As it is the case for all French carmakers, Renault is struggling right now. But what became apparent in 2012 is what may save the French manufacturer is its low-cost range, sold under the Dacia or Renault brands depending on the country. Interestingly, with the 301 already #5 in Algeria, Peugeot could be in the same situation. Case in point, with the much improved new generation now widely available, in January the Dacia Sandero simply takes the lead in Spain thanks to 1,692 sales and 3.4% share while in France, after spending most of the month at #4, it lodges an excellent 6th place with 3,682 units and 3.9%, or nearly a full percentage point above its December market share. This is the Sandero's first time in the French monthly Top 6 in 2.5 years…

Renault Duster

Going up one notch in the range, the Renault Duster continues to impress: it climbs onto the Argentinean podium for the first time ever with with 3,944 sales and 3.7%, while in Russia it is up to a best-ever 4th spot with 5,374 units and 3.3%, reaching heights unheard of for an SUV since the legendary Lada 4×4…

Renault Clio Mio

But wait there are more reasons to be happy for the Renault Group this month: the facelifted previous generation Clio, renamed Clio Mio is already up to a fantastic 4th position in Argentina…

Dacia Lodgy

…and Dacia manages to place 4 models in the monthly Top 5 at home in Romania for the first time in the 47 years existence of the brand: the Logan is #1 at 14.5% share, the Duster #2 at 6%, the Lodgy at a world-best #4 and 3.4% and the Sandero at #5 and 2.8%, only its third time in the Romanian monthly Top 5 in the last 2 years. Notice also the Dokker at a world-best #11…

VW Lavida

In China, the VW Lavida is up to an incredible 48,267 sales in just one month. This is almost 10,000 units above the previous Passenger Car monthly volume record in China of 38,362 sales detained by the Ford Focus last November, and the first time a Passenger Car sells upwards of 40,000 units in a single month. In fact in January 15 models sold over 20,000 units and 44 sold over 10,000, which are new records to be compared to just 9 and 27 respectively in the USA during the same month…

Volvo V40

If Saab has bitten the dust a couple of years ago, it would seem that the other Swedish manufacturer, Volvo, is in great shape at home thank you very much: for the first time in potentially 14 years, there are no less than 4 Volvos in the Top 5 this month in Sweden! The Volvo V70 is unsurprisingly in the lead, the S/V60 ranks #3 while the XC60 hits its highest ever ranking and share at home at #4 with 3.5% and the V40 is back up 4 spots to #5, the highest ranking so far for this generation, also reached last October. Note the Volvo V40 is also up to #5 in Finland.

Skoda Rapid

The Skoda Rapid seems to now have found its rhythm in Czech Republic: it climbs onto the podium for the first time there at #3 with 405 sales and 3.4%. It is also up to #21 in Poland, #34 in Ireland. Other reasons to celebrate for Skoda are the Fabia #1 in Poland for the first time in 4 years, (even though it is at the detriment of the Skoda Octavia) and the Octavia taking the lead in Switzerland for the third time in the last 5 months: with 808 sales and 3.8% vs. 534 and 2.5% for the Golf, it actually lodges its biggest advantage ever against the Volkswagen best-seller… Finally in Austria both the Octavia and Fabia are in record shape: the former with 1,332 units and 4.8%, by far its strongest volume and market share in the country ever, and the latter hitting its highest volume and share in almost 5 years with 1,084 sales and 3.9%…

Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 hits a world-best second place in Norway, with 490 sales and 4.2% share, with its previous world-best monthly ranking being #6 in New Zealand last April, with Australia and Japan the only other countries in the world where the small Mazda SUV has managed to break into the monthly Top 10. The new generation Mitsubishi Outlander is up to a fantastic 4th place in Norway while the VW Up! reaches a world-best 10.4% market share in Denmark.

Fiat 500L

The Fiat 500L confirms it is now a force to be reckoned with it Italy, staying #6 but improving to 3,113 sales and 2.7%, new records for the model. It has not been that brilliant in other countries so far, with Slovenia the only market where the 500L breaks into the Top 20 this month.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V impressively leads in Iceland and Estonia, improves its market share to 4.2% at #5 in Taiwan and is up to #7 in Finland. Two models break into the monthly Top 5 in their home country for the first time this month: the Chevrolet Onix breaks into the Brazilian Top 5 while the VW Tiguan breaks into the German Top 5. In the UK, the Nissan Qashqai is back within the Top 5 for the first time in almost 3 years at #5, earning it a #7 spot Europe-wide, while the Nissan Juke breaks into the monthly Top 10 for the very first time at #9.

Toyota RAV4

Taiwan is the first country in the world where the new generation Toyota RAV4 has started to make its mark, already up to #6 there with 1,754 sales and 4.1% share. Another SUV, the Kia Sportage, impresses in many parts of the world this month: it reaches a record #5 in Croatia and Poland and a best-ever #21 in Italy while the Nissan Leaf is up to #9 in Norway, its best-ever ranking worldwide and second time within the Norwegian Top 10 after last October when it also hit #9.

Seat Ibiza

If the Seat Ibiza has gone a little cold at home, it does wonders in other countries: it is up to a record 2nd place in Algeria this month with 3,318 sales and in Mexico it reaches its best ranking, volume and share at #8 at 2,095 units and 2.5%…

Peugeot 301