August automobile sales in China total 1.49m units

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai September 11) - A total of 1.49 million automobiles were sold in China last month, Xinhua reported today. The figure, which comes from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, is 8.4 percent higher than July's sales number and represents year-on-year growth of 8.26 percent. A total of 1.5 million vehicles were manufactured in the country in August, 4.48 percent higher than the previous month and 7.78 percent higher than the previous year.

The market for SUV was the fastest growing passenger automobile segment in August, with sales in the month totaling 1.27 million units, 30.74 percent higher than figures reported a year ago. By comparison, sedan and minivan sales in the month grew 6.54 percent and 4.05 percent, respectively.

According to the CAAM, sales and production amounts for Chinese-made vehicles from January to August totaled 12.48 million units and 12.47 million units, respectively. The figures respectively represent year-on-year growth of 4.1 percent and 5.19 percent. Passenger automobiles constituted 9.95 million of the total number of automobiles sold and 10.01 million of the number manufactured over the eight month period. Year-on-year growth rates for passenger automobile sales and production amounts were positive, while the same figures for commercial vehicles were both negative.

SAIC was the manufacturer with the greatest number of vehicles produced from January to August. The Shanghai-based enterprise manufactured a total of 2.89 million vehicles over the eight month period. It was followed by Dongfeng (2.09 million vehicles), FAW (1.77 million), Changan (1.25 million), BAIC (1.05 million), GAC (498,600), Brilliance (392,900), Great Wall (378,600), Chery (363,700) and JAC (312,200). The above ten companies sold a total of 10.99 million vehicles, constituting 88.12 percent of all vehicles sold in the first eight months of the year.