Acura China's goal is to prevent more dealerships from leaving its sales network, executive says

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai January 3) - Acura's Chinese branch has officially responded to recent reports regarding the state of the manufacturer's dealerships in the country. According to a report appearing in the Nanfang Daily earlier this week, Acura China said that their goal was to ensure profits for their dealerships.

During its six years in the country, Acura has failed to make successful inroads among Chinese consumers. The manufacturer's performance has dropped significantly over the last two months, with nearly 20 percent of its dealerships leaving the Acura sales network. According to Takuya Tsumura, head of Acura China's business division, the manufacturer's domestic sales network fell from 39 dealerships in 2011 to 32 dealerships this year. In Mr. Tsumura's own words, Acura China's key goal is to prevent dealerships from leaving its network in the future.

Acura's sales in China have been relatively poor. The manufacturer reported selling a total of 2,300 vehicles in China this year, falling slightly from 2011. By comparison, Acura sold a full 12,163 vehicles in the US in October alone, surpassing rivals Audi and Volvo.