Passenger car sales rose 21.2 percent last month in China from
the same period of last year, fueled by multi-purpose vehicles and
sport utility vehicles.
Domestic car makers delivered a record 496,900 units for
October, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said.
The growth was 11.4 percent slower than September.
Total vehicle sales grew 24 percent year on year to 7.15 million
units during the January through October period.
Sedan sales amounted to 364,600 units last month, an increase of
20 percent from a year earlier while SUVs jumped 66.8 percent to
30,900 units. Sales of MPVs totaled 17,800 units with growth of
26.7 percent during the same period.
For the first ten months, China's passenger car sales increased
23.5 percent to 5.07 million units while production expanded at
21.7 percent year on year to hit 5.14 million units.
FAW Volkswagen, Germany-based Volkswagen AG's local venture with
First Automotive Works Group Corp, sold most of the cars from
January to October, following by Shanghai Volkswagen, Shanghai
General Motors, Chery, Dongfeng Nissan, FAW Toyota, Guangzhou
Honda, Geely, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen and Chang'an Ford Mazda.
The top 10 best sellers sold a combined 2.46 million units
during the period, making up for 65 percent of total car sales.
Volkswagen's Jetta was the best selling model for the first 10
months with Santana, General Motors' Excelle, Toyota's Camry,
Chery's QQ ranking second to fifth respectively.
The top 10 best-selling models, which also include FAW's Xiali,
Focus made by Ford, Honda'a Accord, Hyundai's Elantra and Family
from Haima Auto, sold a combined 1.23 million units, accounting for
32 percent of car sales.
China's self-branded models also performed well. By the end of
October, cumulative sales of Chinese-branded models topped 1.03
million units, accounting for 27 percent of total car sales.
Among domestic players, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp gained
the sales crown, trailed by FAW, Dongfeng Auto, Chang'an Auto and
Beijing Auto.
(Shanghai Daily November 26, 2007)
