Vietnam's C-segment sedan market saw 490 vehicles sold in July, a nearly 16% increase compared to the previous month, after bottoming out mid-year with only 424 vehicles. Despite signs of recovery, this is still a low consumption rate compared to a few years ago when C-segment sedans were a popular choice for urban customers and young families.

The Mazda3 continued to lead the segment with 231 vehicles delivered to customers, a more than 25% increase compared to June. Following closely behind was the Kia K3 with sales of 125 vehicles, a slight increase of 7.8% compared to the previous month. Cumulatively through July, the K3 sold 1,024 vehicles, significantly lower than the Mazda3's 1,486.

In the next tier, the Honda Civic achieved 60 vehicles in July, up more than 22% compared to June. The Hyundai Elantra remained flat at 51 vehicles, similar to the previous month, while the Toyota Corolla Altis saw a slight decrease to 23 vehicles.

For the first 7 months of 2025, the entire C-segment sedan market reached 3,432 vehicles, almost half the figure from the same period in 2024 (6,357 vehicles). The Japanese-Korean duo assembled and distributed by Thaco, the Mazda3 and Kia K3, accounted for over 73% of the market share, while the Elantra, Civic, and Corolla Altis combined held less than 30%.

Honda Civic during the Car Awards journey, 11/2024. Photo: Minh Quan

Honda Civic during the Car Awards journey, 11/2024. Photo: Minh Quan

Despite manufacturers and dealers maintaining promotions and sales programs for the C-segment sedan over the past few months, sales have not seen much improvement. According to industry experts, the C and D segment sedans have become niche segments, serving a customer base loyal to the traditional sedan style and prioritizing driving experience. Meanwhile, the majority of mainstream buyers are shifting to SUVs.

Ho Tan