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Mitsubishi Xpander outsells Toyota Veloz Cross in 2023. Photo: Vinh Phuc. |
By the end of December 2023, Mitsubishi Xpander achieved sales of 2,809 units in the Vietnam market, bringing the total sales for the year to 19,740 units.
This sales volume of Mitsubishi Xpander accounted for nearly 42% of the total sales in the affordable MPV segment and helped Xpander become the best-selling model in the entire Vietnam automotive market.
Stable Xpander sales
Looking back at the whole of 2023, Mitsubishi Xpander only sold below 1,000 units once, recorded in January 2023. Since then, the sales of this MPV model have consistently remained high, reaching a peak of 2,809 units in the last month of 2023.
Mitsubishi Xpander was also the best-selling car in the market in the months of March, May, and July, before being overtaken by the Mazda CX-5 for 4 consecutive months in the late 2023 period.
However, the high and relatively stable sales performance was enough to propel Mitsubishi Xpander to the top position in the Vietnam automotive market, amidst the declining appeal of B-segment sedans and the Mazda CX-5 only experiencing a surge in sales in the second half of 2023.
| Mitsubishi Xpander beats competitors in terms of sales figures | ||||||||||
| Sales figures in the affordable MPV segment in 2023 (Data: VAMA, TC Motor) | ||||||||||
| Brand | Mitsubishi Xpander | Toyota Veloz Cross | Hyundai Stargazer | Toyota Avanza Premio | Kia Carens | Honda BR-V | Suzuki XL7 | Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid | Suzuki Ertiga | |
| Units | 19,740 | 9,318 | 3,857 | 3,783 | 3,766 | 3,047 | 2,526 | 1,101 | 3 |
Following Xpander, Toyota Veloz Cross showed that it no longer had the ability to truly compete in 2023. Toyota’s MPV model achieved sales of 9,318 units in 2023, which is 10,422 units lower than what Xpander achieved in the same period.
On average, Toyota Veloz Cross sold more than 776 units per month, just slightly more than the worst sales performance of Mitsubishi Xpander in 2023.
Slow sales for Korean and Japanese MPVs
The rest of the affordable MPV segment in the Vietnamese market includes Hyundai Stargazer, Toyota Avanza Premio, Kia Carens, Honda BR-V, Suzuki XL7, and Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid.
Among them, Hyundai Stargazer achieved a total sales volume of 3,857 units when 2023 came to a close, surpassing Toyota Avanza Premio by just 74 units.
Through conversations with sales staff at a Hyundai dealership in the southern region, it was revealed that Stargazer was temporarily out of stock in the early months of the year. Meanwhile, the Toyota Avanza Premio MT model is the only variant in the Vietnamese market that has been named in relation to the Daihatsu safety scandal.
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Toyota Avanza Premio MT is the only model affected by the Daihatsu safety scandal. Photo: Boi Ha. |
Newcomers like Kia Carens and Honda BR-V only achieved modest sales figures in 2023, with 3,766 units and 3,047 units sold respectively after 12 months. However, it should be noted that Honda BR-V was just introduced to the Vietnamese market in the middle of the previous year, and the aforementioned sales figures for the Japanese MPV model only include cumulative sales in the last 6 months of 2023.
Suzuki XL7 remains the best-selling passenger car under the Suzuki brand in the Vietnamese market, but its sales have decreased by more than 61% compared to the previous year. The total sales volume of the Suzuki XL7 in 2023 was 2,526 units, while the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid only achieved sales of 1,101 units in the same period.
Who can stop Mitsubishi Xpander?
In 2022, the affordable MPV segment recorded a total sales volume of 49,290 units, despite the entry of 3 new models, including the Kia Carens, Hyundai Stargazer, and Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid.
Entering 2023, the sales of the entire segment decreased slightly, with a total sales volume of 47,141 units, which is 2,149 units less compared to the same period the previous year.
Although the sales volume decreased compared to 2022, Mitsubishi Xpander still maintained its position as the best-selling model in the Vietnam automotive market. This achievement of Mitsubishi Xpander was partly due to the unexpected decline of its pursuing competitors, especially the Toyota Veloz Cross.
Going back to the late 2022 period, the Toyota Veloz Cross was transitioned to local assembly along with the Avanza Premio, with the expectation of improving supply to boost sales competition with the Mitsubishi Xpander.
However, the year 2023 for the Toyota Veloz Cross was relatively challenging, and after 12 months, its sales volume suffered a drop of nearly 34% compared to the same period the previous year.
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Toyota Veloz Cross falls short in sales competition with Mitsubishi Xpander. Photo: TMV. |
Suzuki XL7 also unexpectedly declined, selling only 2,526 units in 2023, a decrease of 4,000 units compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Hyundai Stargazer has shown relatively good sales performance by surpassing many familiar faces and becoming the third best-selling affordable MPV in the entire market.
In the new year, Mitsubishi Xpander is likely to continue leading the small MPV segment due to its existing popularity, variety of versions, and competitive pricing. If there are any disruptions in the small MPV segment, it is likely to originate from promotional programs applied by car manufacturers and dealerships.
However, it is difficult for Toyota Veloz Cross, Hyundai Stargazer, or “newcomer” Honda BR-V to make a difference. In the coming months of 2024, car manufacturers also do not have plans to introduce any new models in the affordable MPV segment. Therefore, the leading position that Mitsubishi Xpander currently holds is unlikely to be shaken, at least until the conclusion of the Vietnam automotive market in 2024.
After surpassing a series of formidable opponents to become the best-selling car, Mitsubishi Xpander seems to be on its way to becoming the new “national car” of the Vietnamese people. Let’s wait and see if there will be any name capable of stopping the progress of this small MPV or not.
Great books to read while in the car
The Cars section introduces readers to interesting books with various captivating topics. During long journeys with cars, it is not uncommon for us to have moments of rest and relaxation, and books are companion for interesting experiences.
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