Chery Auto H1 sales up 46% to 308,933 vehicles

Shanghai, July 12 (Gasgoo.com) Chinese carmaker Chery Auto said last week that its sales in the first half of the year increased 46.25% from a year earlier to a record 308,933 vehicles, continuing to lead the sales by Chinese-brand automakers, media reported.

In the first six months, Chery kept a robust overseas sales growth, with its exports surging 154.3% year on year to 38,107 vehicles, glowing faster than the company's domestic sales. In June alone, its vehicle exports grew 106% to 8,053 units.

However, Chery's sales in June only came to 40,560 units, less than 52,410 vehicles in May and 52,379 in April. The first-half sales figure posts a big challenge for the company to achieve its target of selling 700,000 to 900,000 vehicles this year.

With its 2 millionth vehicle rolling of the production line on March 26, Chery Auto has become the fifth largest maker of passenger vehicles in China. It is also the country's first home-grown automaker that has produced 2 million cars.

Chery sold 500,000 cars in 2009 and expects its sales to reach 900,000 units this year by launching 17 new models under its three brands, including the Chery M14 sports car, Riich G3 and G6 sedans, and Rely X5 SUV.