China Car Sales Up Nearly 18% Jan-Apr
11 May 2008
Xinhua. New passenger car sales in China climbed 17.84% in the first four months of 2008, compared to the same period the prior year.
According to the semi-official China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), sales reached 2.46 million cars, including 1.81 million sedans, 75,500 mini-vans and 141,300 sport-utility vehicles.
Sales in April alone totaled 604,900 cars, up 10.83 percent from a year earlier but down 13.65 percent from March. The figure for March was unusually large, representing the biggest year-on-year rise in seven months, as sales recovered from the extreme weather.
Domestic auto producers sold 463,100 sedans in the first four months, taking up a 25.46% share of total sedan sales. Passenger car sales accounted for more than 70% of China’s total auto sales.
Auto sales in China are expected to exceed 10 million units this year, which would represent full-year sales growth of 14 percent, CAAM said.
Ten+ million 4-wheelers + 25 million gas and electric 2-wheelers (35 millions total) for 2008 is getting closer to 50% of the world new motorized vehicles sale.
Wonder what it will be once 4W electric vehicles are mass produced. Will we see 50 millions/year by 2012?
Posted by: Harvey D | 11 May 2008 at 04:59 PM
Frankly, given how many young people (especially testosterone-charged young males) are killed in auto accidents every year, for us Americans to market cars in China to create jobs for American autoworkers is no more ethical than encouraging young Chinese to smoke cigarettes to create jobs for American tobacco farmers.
Posted by: Alex Kovnat | 12 May 2008 at 04:24 AM
Hi Alex....Think you're missing why Chinese & other people are buying so many vehicles. People love to move around...easily with their own volition. Some people mask their desire by saying they have to get to work, get the kids to school, or do the groceries. Buses, bicycles, scooters, & motorcycles move people. But nothing is easier in all weather & terrains than enclosed 4 wheel vehicles. The Chinese need no American urging in their desire to power around on their piece of the world.
That so many people kill & maim themselves & others in the process must be dealt with. But blaming people for loving to move & wishing to share the moving with others, seems NOT to reduce the carnage.
Posted by: litesong | 12 May 2008 at 09:48 AM