China passenger vehicle sales increase 25% in first 9 months

Sales of passenger vehicles in China rose by 25 percent in the first nine months of 2007 over the same period last year while sales of BMW, Honda and Ford autos saw even larger growth in the country.

From January to September, 2007 total passenger vehicle sales throughout China were 4.58 million. Over the same period BMW sold 36,300 units of BMWs and Minis, up 37 percent, far beyond its global growth rate of 7.2 percent.

Sales of BMW3 series and BMW5 series, manufactured in China, rose by 38 percent to 22,204 units while sales of Mini reached 1,424 units, a 104 percent jump over the corresponding period last year.

Honda, which saw a sales growth of two percent in the United States, sold 297,536 units in China, an increase of 31.7 percent.

Total Ford passenger vehicle sales in China reached 149,455 units from Jan. to Sept., up 30 percent.

Passenger vehicle sales of Chang'an Ford Mazda Automobile Co. Ltd, a joint venture by Ford and Mazda, reached 150,365, up 59 percent.