After a record third quarter spurred by government stimulus and a rebounding economy, China surged towards annualized sales surpassing 11 million vehicles. Should China continue at this pace as expected, it will unseat the American auto market as the world’s largest for the first time on an annualized basis. China displaced the U.S. market as the world’s largest car market on a monthly basis in January 2009.
Strong performers in the China market include its largest automaker, SAIC Motor Corp., which enjoyed a 47 percent increase for the first three quarters compared to a year ago. Another top performer in the China market was Volkswagon AG, which has sold 1.06 million vehicles in the first nine months, compared to only 1.02 million for the entire year of 2008.
General Motors, which is the largest overseas automaker in China, enjoyed healthy gains by more than doubling their monthly sales figure for September with 181,148 vehicles sold. GM continues to enjoy strong sales from the Buick brand, led by the Excelle and Regal models which had begun the year with a slow start when compared to their VW and Toyota counter-parts. GM expects its China sales to continue to outpace the overall market through 2010.
Not to be outdone, Ford posted record sales increases for the third quarter with a 79 percent jump, compared to 2008. The sales increase is partly due to the addition of the Ford Fiesta, as well as the increasing popularity of the Focus sedan which surged 72 percent to an all-time monthly record of 13,891 units for September. Ford also saw gains through its part ownership of Jiangling Motors Corp., a commercial vehicle maker which sold 82,718 units through the first three quarters. Commercial vehicle sales were driven in part by the strong sales figures of the Ford Transit models, totaling 23,520 vehicles year to date.
10/15, 11:47 AM
posted by:
CiNO
No way.
10/15, 11:50 AM
posted by:
American_Cars_Crap
It won’t be long till the Chinese realise what crap GM and Ford cars are. With China growing so fast, and predicted to be the #1 economic superpower in as little as 15 years, China’s success will make driving for us become very expensive. Lets not forget India’s rapidly growing economy. The Tata Nano will also make driving for us become very expensive. But in a way thats good. Maybe this will allow all the fat people to finally do some walking and lose some weight. I’m just getting sick of seeing so many fat people where ever I go! Fat people have no self respect??
10/15, 11:57 AM
posted by:
HINKS
^Move back to Asia and you probably won’t see as many fat people.
10/15, 11:58 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
ACC, do you have ADD? That might explain how you can start a post slagging GM and Ford and end up ranting about fat people. You’re a f*cking moron… go away.
10/15, 12:09 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
Come on Ford your China’s darling right now with the Hot Sexy Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus and soon to be Iosis Max will beat the crap out of even SAIC Motor Corp. Um ACC go to your Room and make your bed! and don’t come out to hop on the computer till your done your homework!
10/15, 12:10 PM
posted by:
floor_it
@ACC – GM sells different versions of their cars in China. That notwithstanding, their quality has improved markedly in the last 5 years or so. So has Ford’s, Hyundai’s…
What exactly was your point? Seems scattered.
10/15, 12:14 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
With General Motors conquering the market in China, this is a worthy piece. Shows just how much other Countries embrace American nameplates. I bet the idiots who chose VW’s will be regretting thier decisions when the first repair bill comes and they have to sell their houses to pay for the POS.
GM. AN American Revolution
10/15, 12:22 PM
posted by:
Smegley Wanxalot
Damn. GM sold 181k units in China in Sept and only 154k (or so) here.
10/15, 12:45 PM
posted by:
mugengsr
Don’t you konw the Chinese are still pissed off at the Japs for WWII. That’s why they buy American, not cuz we make good cars!
10/15, 12:46 PM
posted by:
cocojoe53
I say lets send them ALL the current Buicks, put the GS badge on the G8 and sell it as a Buick here
10/15, 1:13 PM
posted by:
Fletch
Will Asia rule the world in 20 years?
10/15, 1:36 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
it’s interesting living through a global shift in economic power, isn’t it? we’ve still got the military might to kick anybody’s ass, but when our national debt is practically owned by china, who gets to pull the strings? conventional war is so 20th century…we need to modernize our economics asap, imo…
10/15, 1:45 PM
posted by:
ICEMAN
MUGGER, The Chinese who are buying the cars, the young, the middle class, they are so far from hating the Japs, to them it was just another sad event that happened and that’s, only a few extremists think like that.
10/15, 2:37 PM
posted by:
Cardemon04
Wow… that was scary. I just caught myself agreeing with NMOFGM
no matter how you cut it, this is bad news for us.
10/15, 2:50 PM
posted by:
spg900
NMOFGM- Beer cans are made from aluminum not scraped cars you dumb fock !
American_Cars_Crap- Y_o_u_r a f_o_c_k_i_n_g i_d_i_o_t !
10/15, 2:54 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
ACC is just a garden variety Douche!
10/15, 3:25 PM
posted by:
vicdub85
Why’s everyone hating on ACC? Is it cause you’re fat too?
10/15, 3:35 PM
posted by:
SomeGreek
10% market share for Vw… Way to go!
Isn’t that a fact that no profits from any Chinese production facility can leave the country? Or am i wrong?
10/15, 3:43 PM
posted by:
09Accord
american cars suck..go suck a asian dick if you dont want to see so many fat people and move the **** back to where ever you came from your dirtbag
10/15, 4:23 PM
posted by:
Borat
Well if fat people have no self respect, then all whores would be skinny. Not the case.
Why there is a surprise? There 1.2 billion Chinese citizens vs. 300 millions of US. Even if they can afford only pathetic cars, there will be a lot of them sold. Ditto India with almost a billion population. I wonder if Europe is far behind (if it is behind US in total cars consumption). There are 500 millions people live in European Union and most families own a vehicle.
10/15, 4:47 PM
posted by:
SomeGreek
A little more than 17 milion last year. Check this:
http://www.acea.be/index.php/news/news_detail/new_vehicle_registrations_by_country/
10/15, 4:51 PM
posted by:
SomeGreek
Ooops… That was 14.7 milions. The second page of the document is for the passenger cars.
10/15, 4:59 PM
posted by:
Borat
To help you count cars: in EU there were 14.7 millions cars sold and in US 13.1. More people = more cars.
10/15, 5:29 PM
posted by:
SomeGreek
Help ME count cars? You asked, i gave you the link. What excactly was your help?
10/15, 7:44 PM
posted by:
Borat
Thank you.
10/15, 7:44 PM
posted by:
Borat
Evharisto
10/16, 12:39 AM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
i heard the other day a story on chinese exports…the US is the single biggest importer of chinese goods, but if you consider the EU as a single unit they actually import more chinese goods than we do…obviously related to the population thing, just like the car market…
10/16, 7:53 AM
posted by:
A4
American_Cars_Crap… I tend not to respond to people who are so clearly beyond the point of no return, but are you trying to say that Chinese cars… are better than Ford and GM? Is that what you’re REALLY trying to argue? Naw… you couldn’t be that stupid… could you?
10/16, 9:15 PM
posted by:
Barry Obama
I blame America for helping these people.