Vietnam 2010: Toyota Innova and Fortuner fight it out

Toyota Innova in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 2011

The Vietnamese car market is down 26% in December at 11,198 registrations, bringing the 2010 figure to 112,224, down 6%. The Toyota Innova keeps the title of best selling car in Vietnam in 2010 with 7,419 sales and 6.6%. The Toyota Fortuner, #2 at 6,551 sales and 5.8%, is getting closer every month: only 19 sales separated the two models in December.

Two more Toyotas follow: the Corolla at 5.4% (6.3% in December thanks to the restyled version) and the Vios at 5.2%. The Daewoo Lacetti (aka Chevrolet Cruze) reaches #5 in 2010 with 3.8% of the market, ahead of the Kia Morning (Picanto) at 2.9% and the Daewoo Matiz (aka Chevrolet Spark) at 2.6%. The new Kia Forte is also very successful in Vietnam: #14 in 2010, it is already #8 in December with a very solid 3.3% share.

Full Photo Report, Top10 in pictures, Dec & Full Year 2010 Top 20: click on ‘Read more’ below.

Toyota Fortuner in Hanoi, Vietnam, December 2010

Full Year 2010 Top 10 in Pictures:

1. Toyota Innova (see above) 7,419 sales

2. Toyota Fortuner (see above) 6,551 sales

3. Toyota Corolla Altis 6,012 sales

4. Toyota Vios 5,807 sales

5. Daweoo Lacetti/Chevrolet Cruze 4,287 sales

6. Kia Morning 3,268 sales

7. Daewoo Matiz/Chevrolet Spark 2,939 sales

8. Toyota Camry 2,667 sales

9. Kia Carens 2,585 sales

10. Ford Everest 2,311 sales

Vietnam Full Year 2010 Top 20:

Pos	Model	2010	%
1	Toyota Innova	7,419	6.6%
2	Toyota Fortuner	6,551	5.8%
3	Toyota Corolla Altis	6,012	5.4%
4	Toyota Vios	5,807	5.2%
5	Daewoo Lacetti/Cruze	4,287	3.8%
6	Kia Morning	3,268	2.9%
7	Daewoo Matiz/Spark	2,939	2.6%
8	Toyota Camry	2,667	2.4%
9	Kia Carens	2,585	2.3%
10	Ford Everest	2,311	2.1%
11	Honda Civic	1,827	1.6%
12	Daewoo Gentra	1,769	1.6%
13	Toyota Hiace	1,415	1.3%
14	Kia Forte/Koup	1,320	1.2%
15	Honda CR-V	1,313	1.2%
16	Ford Focus	1,297	1.2%
17	Kia Cerato	1,249	1.1%
18	Toyota Hilux	1,195	1.1%
19	Ford Ranger	973	0.9%
20	Ford Escape	965	0.9%

Vietnam December 2010 Top 20:

Pos	Model	Dec	%	Nov	2010	%	Pos
1	Toyota Innova	839	6.8%	1	7,419	6.6%	1
2	Toyota Fortuner	820	6.6%	2	6,551	5.8%	2
3	Toyota Corolla Altis	787	6.3%	3	6,012	5.4%	3
4	Toyota Vios	557	4.5%	5	5,807	5.2%	4
5	Kia Morning	464	3.7%	4	3,268	2.9%	6
6	Daewoo Lacetti/Cruze	463	3.7%	6	4,287	3.8%	5
7	Daewoo Matiz/Spark	428	3.4%	7	2,939	2.6%	7
8	Kia Forte/Koup	408	3.3%	11	1,320	1.2%	14
9	Kia Carens	351	2.8%	8	2,585	2.3%	9
10	Ford Everest	298	2.4%	10	2,311	2.1%	10
11	Toyota Camry	293	2.4%	9	2,667	2.4%	8
12	Honda Civic	261	2.1%	16	1,827	1.6%	11
13	Honda CR-V	210	1.7%	15	1,313	1.2%	15
14	Ford Focus	178	1.4%	17	1,297	1.2%	16
15	Ford Escape	155	1.2%	23	965	0.9%	20
16	Toyota Hiace	152	1.2%	21	1,415	1.3%	13
17	Toyota Hilux	144	1.2%	22	1,195	1.1%	18
18	Daewoo Gentra	139	1.1%	18	1,769	1.6%	12
19	Ford Ranger	131	1.1%	24	973	0.9%	19
20	Mitsubishi Triton	118	0.9%	25	759	0.7%	22

Source: VAMA, www.vietnamcar.com

One new model that doesn’t feature in any sales ranking but can been seen very frequently in the streets of Hanoi is the US-built Toyota Venza. This could be the result of private US imports.

Toyota Venza in Hanoi, Vietnam, December 2010

In spite of the proximity between the two countries, there are very few Chinese passenger cars on Vietnamese roads. The only model to appear relatively frequently is the Lifan 520. Trucks are a different story altogether, with DongFeng models most frequent.

Lifan 520 (with Toyota badge!) in Sapa, Vietnam, December 2010

DongFeng truck in Sapa, Vietnam, December 2010

Note 1: I have added the official sales figures of Daewoo Cruze and Daewoo Lacetti as these are one and the same model, both sold under the Chevrolet Cruze and Daewoo Lacetti names.

Note 2: I have removed all medium commercial vehicles from the ranking. The Kia K2700, K3000 and Thaco, Hyundai Porter, DongFeng, CuuLong and Vinaxuki trucks are the most successful. See VAMA tables for more details.

Note 3: Many thanks to my dear Mum and Dad who took the Ford Everest picture in Ho Chi Minh City in November 2010. I have taken all other pictures featured in this article during my stay in Vietnam in December 2010/January 2011.