FAW Group sales up 13.9% in Jan-Sept

Oct. 23, 2008 (China Knowledge) - FAW Group Corp, China's largest automotive group, announced that its auto sales amounted to 1.2 million units in the first nine months this year, representing a robust growth of 17.1% year-on-year, according to sources.

Over the Jan.-Sep. period, its sales of sedan and heavy truck rose 17% and 15% from a year earlier to 966,686 units and 142,388 units respectively, while that of light car and compact car totaled 52,969 units and 33,443 units, down 8.4% and 13.3% respectively over the same period of last year.

At the end of September, the group's market share added 0.3 percentage point from a year earlier to 16.6%.

According to data posted by the Chinese automaker, FAW sold 116,000 vehicles in September alone, and its sedan, heavy truck, light car and compact car realized sales of 100,205 units, 8,082 units, 4,432 units and 3,093 units, down 3%, 32%, 38.3% and 38.4% respectively from a year ago.

Sales of FAW-Volkswagen hit 39,361 units in September and rose 10.8% to 382,845 units in the Jan.-Sep. period, which helped maintain its leading status in the country.

Sales of FAW Car reached 10,735 units last month, with 6,093 units of Mazda 6 and 4,546 units of Besturn sold. For the first nine months, FAW sold a total of 90,485 units, up 59.6% from a year earlier.

FAW-Toyota sold 27,251 units in September and a total of 283,464 units in the Jan.-Sep. period, a year-on-year rise of 50.7 %, including 122,749 units of new Corolla.