China auto news this week(2007.04.16 - 2007.04.21)

China auto output and sales up to 2.1 million in Q1
 
By Jorvan   From:www.gasgoo.com April 16 2007
 
Data released by China Automobile Industry Association recently showed China auto output and sales in the first quarter of this year were 2.1928 million and 2.1237 million, a year-on-year increase of 22.57% and 22.17%.

Data showed that auto output and sales in March were 853,800 vehicles and 847,200 vehicles, increased 48.82% and 52.20% than previous month, an increase of 16.16% and 17.03% year on year. Commercial vehicle growth was significantly higher than that of passenger cars. Top 3 automobile manufacturers were SAIC, FAW, Dongfeng, Top 3 brands were Santana, Jetta and Excelle.

Sales of the top 10 enterprises are: SAIC, FAW, Dongfeng, Chang'an, Beijing Auto, Guangzhou Motors, Chery, Hafei, Brilliance and Geely. Compared with the same period last year, Chang'an and Beijing Auto showed a slight decrease and other enterprises maintained steady growth, particular Brilliance. Top 10 brands were Santana, Excelle, Jetta, Camry, Xiali, QQ, family, Elantra, Accord and Passat linyu.

GM sales to hit one mln in China
 
By Ally   From:www.gasgoo.com April 19 2007

GM has sold 876,747 vehicles in China in 2006, up 31.8% compared with the previous year, and the US car maker sold 290,000 in the first quarter in China with growth in all its lineup models. "We expect our sales this year in China to surpass one million units for the first time," said Kevin Wale, Detroit-based General Motor's China chief. GM plans to launch seven new and upgraded models in the Chinese market this year, including the newly launched Chevrolet Epica, Buick Park Avenue and the to-be-debut Opel Astra, Astra GTC, etc.

Wale said GM, struggling in its home market, will continue to invest one billion dollars in China each year through 2010 to expand production facilities, engineering and design capability, and new products.

Buick may introduce SUV models in future based on the existing brands, he added, but declined to give detailed comment.

GM is a new comer in the luxury sedan market in China, but Wale expressed satisfactions to Cadillac's sales performance recent months and said all GM need is a longer time to compete.

Light truck sales up 13.76% y-o-y to 134,000 units
 
By Ally   From:www.gasgoo.com April 18 2007
 
Statistics show that light truck sales hit a record with 134,000 units, up 13.76% year-on-year .

Usually March account for much of the total growth of light truck, but this year the sales result is not very optimistic. Futian ranked the top in the sales list but its increasing rate is lower than the industry, while Dongfeng claims the second spot followed by Jianghuai, who fell to the third with a negative growth. Jiangling Motors was listed the fourth with a sales increase of 44.15% to 6,994 units. Jiangling achieved a remarkable growth in comparison with Qingling Motor, whose sales in March amount to only 2,098 units and withheld the 15th position.

Toyota (China): sales of 430,000 vehicles '07
 
By Jorvan   From:www.gasgoo.com April 19 2007

In the Shanghai Auto Show, Toyota display area were more than 2,500 square meters, and will display 31 new models such as Corolla, YARIS, which is strongest exhibition scale so far in China. Toyota China Investment Ltd. general manager said Toyota stressed the importance and its optimism of the China market development prospects.

Toyota Camry is one of the largest sales volume models around the globe, last year in China Camry sales reached to 60,000 units within six months, and it is expected this year sales will reach 150,000 vehicles. FAW Toyota Corolla will be launched this year, and will have a larger increase in sales, about 260,000 vehicles, plus some imported cars, Toyota's total sales in the Chinese market this year is expected to reach 430,000 vehicles, 40% increase over 2006. Toyota said it will account for 10% share of Chinese market in 2010.

FAW Toyota third factory has been completed, a project proposal has been submitted to the government, waiting for the government's formal approval. The third factory is expected to be officially put into operation in May this year, and Corolla will be their hit production.

It is learned that the total investment were 2.2 billion Yuan, each side holds 50% shares. The third plant was designed as 200,000 vehicles annually; Toyota Corolla sales will reach more than 100,000 vehicles in 2008.

Ford's China joint venture sees big jump in 2007 sales
 
From:Reuters  April 20 2007

Ford Motor Co.'s flagship China venture expects to sell 220,000-230,000 vehicles this year, an increase of as much as 77 percent, boosted by its popular mid-range Focus sedan, its chief said today.

Changan Ford Mazda, a three-way tie-up between Ford, Mazda Motor Corp. and Changan Automobile Co. Ltd., more than doubled its sales last year to 126,790 units, including Focus sales of 78,430. The model is a hit with China's young professionals.

"We could hardly keep up with demand for the Focus, and sales this year could be roughly 100,000 units," CEO Jeffrey Shen told Reuters on the sidelines of a briefing ahead of the Shanghai auto show.

Ford is a relative latecomer to China's fiercely competitive market, currently dominated by General Motors and Volkswagen AG.

Ford sold a total of 166,722 vehicles in China in 2006, including imports, roughly a fifth of GM's sales of 876,747 units. Volkswagen's sales in China and Hong Kong reached 711,298 vehicles.

Raising its profile in the world's second-largest autos market, Ford has been ramping up capacity with Changan and Mazda. Ford owns a third of Mazda.

By end-2007, Ford's China capacity should hit 546,000 units, including 410,000 units at Changan Ford Mazda and 136,000 at a commercial vehicle tie-up with Jiangling Motor Co.

Ford also sells premium marques such as Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover in China, and last month rolled out the S-Max, an SUV aimed at China's increasingly affluent young professionals.

It is also gearing up to locally produce the third generation Mondeo sedan at a plant in southwest China.

GM, which last week launched Park Avenue, a flagship Buick model, expects to roll out another 10 new or revamped models this year, while Volkswagen aims to introduce at least a dozen new models by the end of the decade.