Premium car brands keep growing amongst overall PV downturn in China

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Amid the prolonged downturn for China's PV market, premium car brands still displayed a rising momentum. Among eight auto brands hereby compiled by Gasgoo, only Lexus posted a rare decrease in August sales.

In terms of year-to-date sales, only Jaguar Land Rover failed to achieve growth. However, compared to its sales volume before July, this was really a big progress.

Mercedes-Benz maintained its championship in year-to-date China sales from July, outselling BMW by only 1,292 units. The second runner-up Audi also delivered over 420,000 vehicles through August in this country. All three German premium brands achieved year-on-year growth in both August sales and Jan.-Aug. sales.

(Photo source: Beijing Benz)

For the first eight months, Mercedes-Benz posted a 4.1% growth over a year ago with 464,226 vehicles delivered in China (including Smart-branded cars). However, for the first half of 2019, sales of Mercedes-Benz only grew 1.3% to 344,657 units, still less than that of the BMW. Thanks to the robust performance of the C-Class, the E-Class and the GLC-Class, Mercedes-Benz overtook BMW in July and August.

(Photo source: BMW Brillance)

Including the sales of Mini brand, BMW Group's sales in China jumped 15.7% from the previous year to 462,934 units, of which 58,911 units came from August.

Year-to-date deliveries of the new BMW 5 Series totaled around 108,000 units. Besides, Jan.-Aug. deliveries of the BMW X Series remarkably rose over 60% from the prior-year. Of which, sales of the BMW X3 and the X1 surpassed 78,000 units and 66,000 units, and roughly 15,000 customers took delivery of the all-new BMW X5.

(Photo source: Audi China)

In August, Audi's China sales edged up 2% over the year-ago period to 58,580 units. Positive impetus came from the Audi A4L and the Q5L, whose Aug. sales surged 38.4% and 25.3% respectively to 14,857 units and 13,785 units.

Regarding year-to-date sales, Audi was temporarily ranked third. However, unlike BMW containing its sub-brand Mini, Audi offered the number of a single brand. 

All three German luxury auto brands are highlighting new product roll-out. Sales volume of the all-new BMW 3 Series is expected to ramp up over the next few months with its capacity being gradually unleashed.

Besides, the locally-produced BMW X2, which was unveiled at the 2019 Chengdu Motor Show, is scheduled to hit the market in the fourth quarter.

Mercedes-Benz showed off a variety of new SUV models, including the GLB, the GLE and the EQC, in its “year of SUV”. Moreover, Audi also rolled out such new models as the all-new A6L and the Chinese-spec Q3, and the e-tron BEV is to go on sale is China soon.

The gap between Lexus and Cadillac is narrowing.

Lexus was hit by a 4.3% year on year drop in August, while its year-to-date sales in China still jumped 24.9%.

(Photo source: Lexus China)

Last month, the Lexus Hybrids accounted for 29.2% of the brand’s total China sales with 4,948 vehicles sold. For the first eight months, sales volume of hybrid models reached 42,466 units.

（Photo source: Cadillac)

Cadillac's monthly and year-to-date sales growth still remained positive. At the Chengdu Motor Show, the GM-owned premium brand said it will construct a product matrix comprising the CT sedan series and the XT SUV series, covering the CT4, the XT4, the CT5, the XT5, the CT6 and the XT6.

The Cadillac XT6 has already been available for sale since July, 2019. In addition, the CT5 is about to hit the market in fourth quarter.

（Photo source: Volvo China)

Volvo's sales in China last month reached 14,212 cars, jumping 24.8% compared with the same period last year. The strong performance came on the back of continued high demand for the locally produced XC60 and the S90. Between January and August, its China sales also represented a double-digit increase.

（Photo source: Chery Jaguar Land Rover)

Following the first-half downturn, Jaguar Land Rover got its monthly sales back on track in July. Last month, the rising momentum still continued. As part of its “product onslaught” plan, the automaker intends to roll out 30 all-new models and facelifts by the end of 2021.

（Photo source: Dongfeng Motor)

With 3,280 locally-produced vehicles sold, Infiniti gained an impressive growth of 55.8% in August, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Some analysists said its significant growth should be attributed to the launch of the all-new China-made QX50.