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.
