Forecasters Predict Return Of Torrid Car Growth In China

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

By the end of 2009, China was the world’s largest auto market – something we saw coming nearly a year in advance. When the torrid double digit growth got stuck two years later, a lot of people called a bubble. However, the bubble did not burst. Now, analysts predict a return of the double digit growth.


Ryan Cui, an analyst with LMC Automotive, told China Daily that said his firm “forecasts passenger vehicle sales will rebound to 10.5 percent growth this year and a stable increase will continue in the next four to five years.” Cui doesn’t see “any chance of a decline.”

His colleague Lin Huaibin, an analyst with IHS Automotive, said that a falling market “is impossible” unless the nation’s economic fundamentals change.

The logic behind the reasoning: “About 67 of every 1,000 people in China now have cars, a much lower ratio than Western markets.” Many European countries now have 600 cars per thousand people. America has 800 per thousand. China’s car growth is directly connected ton the economy. Most car sales still are in cash, and Chinese tend to save when darker clouds appear on the economic horizon. As business picks up in China, car sales should follow.

One problem in China: Capacity utilization : A report released by China Galaxy Securities in January said domestic carmakers on average used only 58 percent of their production capacity last year, while joint ventures operate at 90 percent. Lin with IHS said over-capacity could be eased if domestic brands export more. TTAC readers know this since September last year and can save the money for the study.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

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.

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  • Lorenzo Lorenzo on May 21, 2013

    How does Japan weakening the Yen affect China's fundamentals? Is Abenomics a potential problem? BTW, Carthage used sea sand and sea water in their concrete used in docks and pilings. It lasts longer exposed to seawater.

  • Summicron Summicron on May 22, 2013

    Not a lot of rebar in Carthaginian docks and pilings. It's a little different for skyscrapers, like the Ping'an Finance Center. It's supposed to reach 660 meters but work has been halted at 80 by the Shenzen Housing and Construction Bureau. 31 contractors involved have had their licenses revoked for using ....guess what. I say let 'em keep going.

  • Summicron Summicron on May 22, 2013

    BTW, anybody know what that blue area is on the car in the pic? It looks wrinkled on the rocker panels (still called that?) so maybe it's a protective film?

  • Onus Onus on May 22, 2013

    This assumes that all these other people make wages that can afford them a car. I think that is far from the case. The rapid expansion and moving of people from villages has slowed dramatically since the Recession. I predict it to continue at the current rate.

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