Import SUV sales grow over 54% in May in China

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai July 16) - Chinese sales of imported SUVs went through the roof in May, a report appearing in the Economic Observer News today reveals. According to the report, which cited China Automobile Trading statistics from the most recent China Passenger Car Association monthly summit, year-on-year growth for import SUVs in May reached 54.2 percent, with a total of 63,000 units imported. Sedan and minivan imports for the month totaled 460,000 and 6,000 units, representing year-on-year growth of 39.2 percent an 4.8 percent for their respective segments.

A total of 117,048 vehicles were imported in May, with 114,934 of those being passenger automobiles. Year-on-year growth rates for total imports and passenger automobile imports were 51.4 percent and 51.9 percent, respectively.

Imports from January to May totaled 489,498 units, growing 27.6 percent from the previous year. Once again, year-on-year growth rates for passenger automobile imports were slightly above the overall average, finishing at 27.9 percent. According to Wang Cun, head of CATC's marketing and sales division, the ratio of small car imports has noticeably been growing. Vehicles with engine displacements of 3.0 L or less constituted 84.7 percent of all imports in the first five months of the year, growing 3.7 percent from last year.

Sales promotions for imports in May totaled 55,519 yuan ($8,763), growing 11,033 yuan ($1,741) from the previous month.