China auto news this week (Sept 10-15, 2007)
China's top ten best-selling brands in August
By Tony From:Gasgoo.com September 11 2007
Shanghai. September 11 (Gasgoo.com) –Shanghai Volkswagen sold 18,130 Santana vehicles (including Santana 3000) in August, making it the best selling brand this month, Chinese media reported today.
Jetta, a FAW-VW produce brand, sold17, 219 units in August, second only to Santana.
http://www.gasgoo.com/autobiz/3246/China-s-top-ten-best-selling-brands-in-August.html
SUV sales grow fastest in the first 8 months, up 49.78 % year-on-year
By Tony From:Gasgoo.com September 13 2007
Shanghai. September 13 (Gasgoo.com) China’s sales of SUV vehicles grew fastest both in August and in the first eight months of this year, according to the latest report released by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
CAAM statistics show that SUV sales grew 75.81 percent in August to 29,600 units and 49.78 percent to 217,200 units in the first eight months.
CAAM statistics also show China’s MPV sales grew 20.48% year-on-year to 143,500 units in the first eight months, while total passenger vehicle sales grew 24.09 percent year-on-year to 4.02 mln units.
In August, total sales of passenger vehicles reached 481,300 units, up 26.77 from a year ago. Under passenger vehicles category, sedan sales grew 24.43 percent year-on-year to 372,200 units while MPV sales grew 42 percent year on year to 19,000 units, according to CAAM statistics.
China produces 5.75 mln autos, including 3.08 mln sedans in Jan-Aug period
By Tony From:Gasgoo.com September 11 2007
Shanghai. September 11 (Gasgoo.com)- China turned out 5.75 mln automobiles, up 23.57 percent from one year earlier, according to the latest statistics released by China Association of Automobile(CAAM).
The total automobile output includes 3.08 mln sedans, which grew 24.31 percent from one year earlier, according to CAAM.
China's total auto sales during the same period topped 5.68 mln units, an increase 24.95 from one year earlier, CAAM statistics show.
The total automobile sales include 3.01 mln sedans, which grew 26.31 percent compared to the same period last year, according to CAAM.
Last year, China turned out 3.87 mln sedan, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics.
In China's sedan market, U.S.-made cars beat Japan-made first time ever
By Joanne Jiu From:Gasgoo.com September 12 2007
Shanghai, September 12, (Gasgoo.com)--During the first half of this year, China imported more cars from the United States than from Japan for the first time, and Germany-made cars remain the largest imports, official statistics shows.
China has imported 13,476 U.S.-made sedans during the first half of this year, which have passed Japanese-made sedans, according to China Trading Center For Automobile Import.
"On the one hand, Japanese automakers pursue a local production strategy instead of seeking more exports; on the other hand, more segments of U.S.-made automobiles have poured into Chinese market than ever," said Ding Hongxiang, general manager of China Trading Center For Automobile Import.
In terms of market share, Germany-made cars account for 39% of China's imported sedan market, while US-made cars take 21% and Japan-made cars 19%.
However when it comes to the imports of SUVs, there is a different story. China imported 60,570 SUVs during the first six months, of which 48% are made in Japan, 22% are made in Korea and only 13% in the US.
As for best-selling luxury brands, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo, Audi, VW and Porsche are listed on the top of imported luxury vehicles. Yet there are few American-made luxury brands available in Chinese market.
China's auto output may hit record 9 mln this year--expert
By Joanne Jiu From:Gasgoo.com September 10 2007
Shanghai. September 10 (Gasgoo.com)--China's auto production and sales for 2007 may top a record 9 million units, an auto expert said.
China’s total automobile output and sales may reach 9 million vehicles in 2007, much higher than the projected 8.5 million units, accordingn to Zhang Xiaoyu, vice chairmen of China Machinery Industry Federation and president of Society of Automotive Engineers of China (SAE China).
Since 2001, China’s auto industry has been growing by 26% annually , Zhang told an annual symposium hosted by Society of Automotive Engineering of China in Tianjin last Friday.
During the first half of this year, China manufactured 4,456,700 and sold 4,373,800 vehicles, up 22.36% and 23.31% year on year respectively, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
Last year, China's auto output and sales rose above 7.2 million units, making China world's second largest auto market following the United States.
The U.S. is the only nation with the auto sales exceeding 10 million units. During the past five years, there are 15 million vehicles traded in the American auto market every year.
China's auto industry may face excessive capacity, official says
By Ally From:Gasgoo.com September 10 2007
Shanghai. September 10 (Gasgoo.com) - China's automobile output capacity has exceeded 10 million units this year, and it may face serious excessive capacity, a senior Chinese automobile industry official said Sunday.
In recent years, many Chinese automakers are talking about the expansion of their output capacity and many global auto giants are equally enthusiastic about adding new investments in China's auto industry.
"We have worries under this investment enthusiasm," Zhang Guobao, deputy director of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) told International Forum on the Development of China's Automobile Industry in Tianjin last Sunday.
Many people in auto business believe China has "a great potential for automobile industry" on the grounds that China has 27 vehicles per thousand populations and the number is 150 for world average.
"It is unscientific to compare China's vehicle ownership per capita to that of world standards," Zhang told the conference. "China is a developing country with a huge population. And the vast majority of our population cannot afford to own a car."
In addition, automobile industry requires a huge investment; once these investments turn out to be a failure, they would lead to billions of losses, Zhang warned.
China's "Big Three" auto groups to invest $6.65 bln to develop local brands
By Ally From:Gasgoo.com September 12 2007
Shanghai. September 12 (Gasgoo.com) - China's big three domestic auto group plan to invest a total amount of 50 billion yuan (US$6.65 billion) to develop local brands, a senior official said at an automobile industry conference in Tianjin early this week.
"FAW Group will invest 13 billion yuan (US$1.71 billion) to develop its own brands," said Zhang Xiaoyu, president of the council of China Automotive Engineering Society (CAES) and vice president of the China Machinery Industry Federation.
Shanghai Automotive has budgeted over 27 billion yuan (US$3.56 billion) for the next five years. The fund will be used to develop new engines and sedans with independent intellectual prosperity rights and build a technical center, Zhang said.
Dongfeng, which is traditionally a truck manufacturer, plans to spend 10 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion) to boost its passenger vehicle sector.
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