GM's China Sales Up 13.4 Percent In August
Our Chinese sales oracle has spoken, and it says that sales of cars in China are good. August sales numbers released by General Motors today indicate that China has left the doldrums behind and is revving up to its old double digit self. Sales of GM China and its Chinese joint ventures set an August sales record and rose 13.4 percent (compared to August 2010) to 205,885 units.
In the first eight months of 2011, GM and its joint ventures sold 1,652,693 units in China, up 5.4 percent from the same period last year.
Sales of passenger cars by Shanghai GM are especially strong and up 21.7 percent to 98,674 units. Sales of the “bread vans” made by the SAIC-GM-Wuling have turned the corner and are up 8.2 percent on an annual basis to 102,959 units. This number also includes the new Baojun brand, which is handled by the SAIC-GM-Wuling JV.
Sales of Chinese Buicks are up 22.6 percent, Chevrolet sales rose 20.5 percent.
GM is a very good leading indicator for Chinese car sales. Looking at the numbers, especially those of Wuling, gives you the impression that the discontinuation of the 2010 subsidies has been digested and that the world’s largest auto market will pierce the 20 million barrier, if not this year, then definitely next.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
More by Bertel Schmitt
Comments
Join the conversation