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China beats out U.S. for first-half sales title

07/10/2009, 10:07 AM

By Drew Johnson

On the back of government stimulus package, China has rallied past the United States to become the world’s largest new car market through the first six months of the year. Despite the global economic situation, China has seen a 17.7 spike in new car sales so far this year.

Ending the six month period with a 36.5 percent increase in June sales, China sales surged to 6.1 million units. China’s sales slowed in late 2008 as the global economic downturn took hold, but rallied as government incentives programs came to market. China set a monthly sales record in April – 1.15 million vehicles – narrowly beating out June with 1.14 million sales, according to the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, U.S. sales slid to 4.8 million units during the first six months, casting doubt on a yearly sales figure beyond 10 million units.

Despite its recent bankruptcy, General Motors’s China sales grew by 38 percent in the first half, far outpacing expectations. GM predicted its sales in China to grow by about 10 percent earlier this year, but recently revised that figure to more than 20 percent.

China is expected to account for between 10 million and 11 million sales this year, which could be enough to keep it ahead of the U.S.

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07/10, 10:08 AM

posted by:

A4

We already have cars China, enjoy your firsts.

07/10, 10:14 AM

posted by:

howsmydriving

Ha! A lot of you xenophobic knuckle draggers (at least half of you, by my reckoning) are going to be P.O.’d.

07/10, 10:16 AM

posted by:

CADDY-V

20% increase is great but how many cars is that for GM out of the 6.1 million that were sold?
That and who else is selling cars in China?

07/10, 10:28 AM

posted by:

Bankruptcy2009

I think this car craziness has gone to far. What we need are some warp Drives Captain. lol But in all seriousness. We Need something not as far fetched as Warp Drives but more achievable like a positron reactor would make say a Mission to the planet of Mars Possible. All were doling is wasting time down here using up valuable resources when we have an entire galaxy to explore never touched by mankind.
I sick and tired of fighting with Idiots like MHW and NFOGM who can’t think and use their Brain. This people is what we need is a Multinational Effort of every nation on earth to make distance space Travel Possible and Headed by the Powerful Ford Motor Company Space Antimatter Enginesand Positron Reactors Division!

07/10, 10:28 AM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

howsmydriving, yes I used to watch Xena: Warrior Princess all the time but I fail to see why you would choose to typecast me because of that.

07/10, 10:32 AM

posted by:

A4

seriously 2009… its just buggin me now.

07/10, 10:33 AM

posted by:

Bankruptcy2009

China, Japan, Korea, US, Russia, Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Israel, Iran, North Korea, Germany, Poland, France, Brazil, Mexico, India, Eygpt, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, Spain, Czechloslavakia,and even Uganda should be focus instead of on Car Product but space power production and Fusion Reactors. Its Great that China Beat out the US by becoming the largest car market but if steps are’nt taken now by world leaders to search for other worlds to explore for all mankind we will eventually over populate and or use up all the natural resourcs on planet earth.

07/10, 10:49 AM

posted by:

05Z88Path

^^Do people get stoned and then decide to surf the internet and post on LLN?

07/10, 10:54 AM

posted by:

A4

…you don’t?

07/10, 10:56 AM

posted by:

DB9

CADDY-V, From The associated Press, Chinese sales stats:

“Total sales for the first half of the year rose to 6.1 million, up 17.7 percent from a year earlier, the industry group said. That outpaced the United States, where passenger car sales in the same period plunged to 4.8 million amid an economic slump.”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jnLvATfENcYIMMfdPa2_raXimdNQD99AS2UG2

According to The China Newswires, GM has sold:

“GM sold a total of 814,442 vehicles in China in the first six months, setting an all-time first-half record, mainly boosted by increasing demand for its locally manufactured minivans and pickup trucks. Its monthly sales jumped 61.6% from a year earlier to 143,294 units in June.”

DB9

07/10, 10:59 AM

posted by:

DB9

07/10, 11:01 AM

posted by:

Bubs Solo

Another sign that the American Empire is being passed.

07/10, 11:03 AM

posted by:

mayer_ray_nagin

Caddy, GM was almost 900k units of that (I think 887k or so).

I dont really care who sells more units, but this just goes to prove that the Chinese cömmünìst regime knows how do do stimulous way better than our US cömmünìst regime. Maybe they aren’t ditributing condoms to losers and digging and refilling holes and building skateboard parks planting trees and instead are deploying resources in actual productive efforts while relying on their private market rather than punishing it like we do.

07/10, 11:08 AM

posted by:

CADDY-V

DB9:
Thanks for the link. Do you know if that first-half record is for GM our every car company in China?

mayer:
Thanks for the heads up.

07/10, 11:37 AM

posted by:

leftwingagenda

or china doesn’t need a stimulus because their banking industry didn’t fuel a giant real estate bubble that just popped…the chinese market is going to be larger than ours just due to sheer numbers…the fact the car market in china (with over a billion people) just surpassed the US market (with ~350 million people) shows you how far they have to go…when they’re as industrialized as we are, they’ll have a much larger market than we will…

not to mention, they’re a nation that makes stuff, we’re a nation that consumes stuff…when economic times get rough, guess who is affected more…

07/10, 12:03 PM

posted by:

Bankruptcy2009

Beijing » Ford Motor Co. says its sales in China surged 14 percent in the first half of 2009, another positive sign for global automakers that are counting on China to drive revenues as they struggle in North America.

Ford sales in China totaled 197,212 vehicles from January to June, the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker said Monday. It said passenger car sales climbed 20 percent and were up 55 percent from a year earlier in June alone. And I suspect when Ford Rolls out the Heavy Artillery with World Class World Cars they can overtake GM in China too! Fiesta, KA, Focus, Focus RS, Kuga, Iosis MAX, Iosis, S/C-Max, and more

07/10, 12:15 PM

posted by:

reedfast

Bankruptcy
Maybe the alien on the other planets will like fords better than most of us do!

07/10, 12:42 PM

posted by:

mayer_ray_nagin

I want to know what Bankruptcy thinks Liechtenstein and Trinibad & Tobago should focus on for their economic future.

07/10, 1:04 PM

posted by:

Bankruptcy2009

Reedback spoken like a True GM diehard. We know you hate America’s Car Ford Motor, but too bad their the Best Americam Automobile and Truck Manufacturer. Mr. mayer_ray_nagin I think Trinibad & Tobago should focus on the staples Coca for Chocolates, Sugar, Oil, and then Green Technologies maybe sea based because their in and around the Ocean to produce their power. I don’t expect the world from a small Island Republic, but they can do their part mayer. As for Former Austro-Hungarian Empire and or Holy Roman Empire Liechtenstein’s best bet is to continue to produce high-end power tools, high tech equipment, and false teeth to contribute to the world economy.

07/10, 1:07 PM

posted by:

Bankruptcy2009

As soon as the Chinese figure out what already most americans know about GM they’ll stop buying their junk!

07/10, 1:15 PM

posted by:

leftwingagenda

i hope you’re getting paid for continually posting ridiculous falsehoods, otherwise it’s just kinda sad…

07/10, 1:40 PM

posted by:

Pauly

Wow, first cigarettes and now cars. I don’t think it’s such a great thing for that country. The worst thing they could do is go through all of the same mistakes the U.S. made.

07/10, 1:42 PM

posted by:

Bankruptcy2009

I found yet what none other than more Chevy Lies saying the New Chevy Equinox is rated better in MPG is a Complete Lie. You want a Lie Leftwing I just gave you one. You are a prevaricator if you think otherwise. Listen to this the Escape Hybrid does an EPA. 34 / 31 (city/highway) the New E 32 Hwy amd 22 City does not Trump the Hybrid Escape. See Chevy decided to compare Hwy because that is where the Escapes Hybrid Electric Motor can not be factored in! NOW THAT SIR IS False Advertising @ its best. Yes its DECEPTIVE and in other words they are Lieing through their Chevy Teeth!

07/10, 1:44 PM

posted by:

SomeGreek

Bubs Solo, ever since there is nothing new to be discovered and conquered, empires in the form we knew them from history will eventually fade out. The new form of empire is going to be cultural and economical. And it can’t no longer be as hard to it’s subjectives as in the past or as stable on top of them.
I wish my English would allow me to express myself more accurately…

07/10, 2:07 PM

posted by:

Commodore

Hmm, a country with 1,400,000,000 people *finally* is able to become the “world’s largest car market” by beating out a country with a population of about 305,000,000. Obviously an overpopulated Asian state like China (or India) with 4 TIMES as many people as us should have little trouble becoming the biggest car market. Quite frankly its sad that it took them so long to do this and India isn’t even anywhere near becoming the 2nd largest market which is also sad and shows how impoverished those countries still are.

What is up with “the world’s largest _____” status and all these other absolutes. What really matters is the per capita stats. In the US, there is a car for almost every person. In China, there is like 1 car for every 12 people.

07/10, 3:16 PM

posted by:

Bankruptcy2009

Well Commodore if China and or India had anywhere near the Ratio of Vehicles in relations to per population of people; then you and I could forget about Cheap Gas. I am hoping and I think everyone does. Hope that by the time it does happen that a cheaper source of power will be more viable that Gasoline. Electric of Hydrogen those are really the only two logical alternatives.

07/10, 3:23 PM

posted by:

mayer_ray_nagin

LMAO. Great thread

07/10, 8:18 PM

posted by:

DrFill

Welcome to the New World Odor
Chicken Cow Mein for me
Made by Sum Dum Giy!
DrFill

07/11, 12:20 AM

posted by:

Architect

I think the jury is still out on whether or not China will be able to pull all 1.3B people out of poverty to first-world standards, regardless of how many cars are sold in 2009 (which likely won’t stand in 2010, much less 2011).

07/11, 5:18 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

No sorprise.

Xino-phobic: Hating Chinese
Xeno-Phobic: Hating the “other.”

 
 
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