Sales of imported big cars fall 50% m/m in Nov

Shanghai, December 15 (Gasgoo.com) Statistics show that China's import of Acura, Audi and other brands' high-emission cars dropped in November by more than 50% month on month, said xinhuanet.com today. In addition, the inventories of many fuel-guzzlers have risen to triple the monthly average sales.

Amid the global financial crisis, sales of big-engine cars imported to the Chinese market have slowed down. A Lexus dealer said that his store's sales in November dropped by more than 40%. Previously he could sell 120-130 units each month, but now only 60-70 units.

A salesperson explained that there is a two-month gap between car ordering and delivery, and thus sales of imported big cars in November were heavily affected after the sales tax hike on big-engine cars started on September 1.

"Over 60 vehicles in my inventory are mainly of the 4.2L V8 model, while those of the 3.6L V6 model are almost sold out," said a Volkswagen dealer said. The mounting stockpiles indicate that sales of imported cars of high emissions have dwindled considerably.

An Audi store director said that last month the sales of Audi Q7 4.2L model came to zero, and only three 3.6L models were sold, a drastic fall from the "glorious" average monthly sales of 30 imported Audi cars in the first half of this year.