With auto sales on the decline in the U.S. market, automakers such as Ford and General Motors are relying more and more on their foreign operations to keep things afloat. Luckily for Ford and GM, cars still sell like hot cakes in China – the world’s number two auto market – and both car makers are experiencing double-digit growth in China through the first half of 2008.
GM’s Chinese sales were up 12.7 percent through the first six months of the year, and the Detroit-based automaker continues to be one of the dominant automakers in the Chinese market.
GM sold 590,126 units in China during the January to June sales period, with its Chevrolet and Buick brands leading the way with 109,131 and 146,321 sales, respectively, according to Automotive News. However, GM’s sales growth was off last year’s mark of 18.5 percent.
Ford’s sales increased more percentage-wise than GM’s – posting a 21 percent gain – but Ford’s Chinese market share is much smaller than GM’s, with just 172,411 vehicles sold through June.
However, Ford just opened the doors to a new factory in China capable of producing 410,000 vehicles per year, so the Blue Oval will likely post another double-digit sales increase over the next six months.
07/08, 4:43 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Thank the Chinese for helping to keep American auto companies in business…
07/08, 4:49 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Chinese are helping themselves first. Since foreign companies can’t do business in China without local partner, it is Ford and GM who put forth cash and expertise and Chinese partner who gathers profits. Find profit from those operations on Ford & GM balance sheet. Money will stay in China.
07/08, 4:58 PM
posted by:
THawkoo
^^^^
LOL Yeah right…
07/08, 5:02 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
OK xyunya, but forgive me if I ask the obvious: then what the **** are they doing there?
07/08, 5:12 PM
posted by:
THawkoo
I think its obvious that Ford and GM are trading cars for rice and pirated DVDs.
07/08, 5:19 PM
posted by:
ihustle
GM has the worst line up in the world. With not one best seller withing there 8 vehicle brands. Thats saaaaaaaad.
07/08, 5:23 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
“GM sold 590,126 in China during the January to June sales period…”
“…but Ford’s Chinese market share is much smaller than GM’s, with just 172,411″
No need. They are selling nearly 5 GM vehicles for every 1 Ford. THAT’s saaaaaaaad.
07/08, 6:44 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
^ Haha yeah that is… No actually you can’t be the best unless you have at least two vehicles that are best selling in their class as ihustle likes to use as his only argument for why Ford is better…
Actually what is sad is that while Ford has like the best selling truck… the F-150… the rest of their products are 5X worse than GM’s entire line-up of vehicles…
07/08, 7:23 PM
posted by:
Xile
Just wait … in 20 years the Chinese will be complaining about all of that cheap American crap getting imported into their country.
07/08, 7:31 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Well at least the Chinese are using their heads and are buying wisely, unlike the Big 3’s home turf…
07/08, 8:03 PM
posted by:
THawkoo
Sad but true 1c3d0g.
07/08, 8:44 PM
posted by:
ihustle
“need” once again you speak nothing but lyes. The edge is also #1 in CUV sales, rated higher then Nissan, Lexus, GM, and whatever else is out there, google it. The focus is #1 in domestic small size sedan sales right now. So i dont quite understand what your statement meant, when you stated there products are 5x worse then GM. Can you name #1 GM vehicle that is best in anything. Domestic or Foreign. Waiting……………………………………………………………………………Didnt think so
07/08, 8:59 PM
posted by:
monte
Best in anything? Nurburgring….. ZR1,CTS-V,Cobalt SS
It’s too bad the GT, Lincoln, or Focus can’t accelerate or handle in an all out compitition where GM and Japan are kicking your a$$.
07/08, 10:42 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
More sales doesn’t equate to better. But then, better doesn’t alway win. BetaMax was better…
07/09, 1:10 AM
posted by:
Kanucko
Gas must be cheap in China…
07/09, 9:27 AM
posted by:
xyunya
johnnycanuck, it is a good question. It is rarely asked before companies jump into foreign markets. China has strict monetary controls and it is communist autocracy. I learned it hard way – company I was involved with proudly jumped into the Chinese market as proof of concept, concept worked great, Chinese partner is making hand over fist, our company got screwed – we had cash in China and could not take out anything except cost of hardware, not even development cost, since Chinese government or bureaucrat did not accept supporting documentation. You can purchase Chinese made goods and sell them outside by paying all kinds of bribes and export fees. I suspect it was not business model GM aiming for: bartering in China.
07/09, 10:25 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Yeah, ihustle the Toyota Carolla, Camry, and Civic were all competing for best selling cars in their segment… Oh right just because they are first they are automatically the best right???
So if something from BMW or Mercedes isn’t best selling in it’s class then it’s therefore not superior to something by an American or Asian company?
I don’t give two craps about what’s best selling or not, the only ones that are are POS econoboxes that I’d never be caught dead driving… Just like I’d never be caught dead driving a FORD…
07/09, 10:59 AM
posted by:
xyunya
ihustle, Corvette is the best sports car on the market. Yep ZR6. On par in performance with Italian exotics and turbo Porsche and sold in large numbers. It is also very efficient for it’s performance level and quite trouble free. Vibe is the most reliable domestic car in 2006, 2007. Google it.
07/09, 12:34 PM
posted by:
ktulu
Y list the higehr seller 2nd/
Chinese R going about this smar6t.
GM doesn’t have the worst lineup in the world. The sales don’t mean tey are not good. It is a sales problem, not a wquality problem.
the F-150 is good. The taurus X is not.
in 20 years, the Chinese will porobably be complaining about cheap American crap getting imported into their country.
The edge is better that Lexus CUV
The Corvette is the best cports caar.
BetaMax was better
Gas is about $3 a gallon in China… and about $4 in SLC
Carolla, Camry, and Civic are all crap.
BMW or Mercedes is best in it’s
Vibe is not domestic car
07/09, 2:48 PM
posted by:
xyunya
ktulu, Vibe is made in California NUMMI factory. NUMMI is a joint venture between Toyota and GM. JD Power named Vibe the best quality domestic car, not me. Argue with JD Power.
07/10, 8:52 AM
posted by:
beantownslut
If chinese were smart,they’d be buying more Fords.
07/10, 9:42 AM
posted by:
AmericanIdiot
wow @ ktulu…
someone who says corolla, camry, and civic, three of the heaviest hitting bestsellers, are crap, definitely shows how much credibility his statements have when it comes to automotive know-it prowess…stinks of nothing but bias.
07/10, 12:22 PM
posted by:
WEKS
>>cports caar
I lol’d