The Changan Star is the best-selling vehicle in China in 2000. 1,869,329 new vehicles hit Chinese roads in 2000, a solid 15.5% improvement on a year ago. Volkswagen (+3.2%) only manages a small uptick and remains the most popular carmaker in the country. Changan (+18.7%) advances one spot to #2…
The Changan Star is up to #2 in China in 1999. After marking a pause in 1998 (+0.5%), new vehicle sales in China gain 8.2% year-on-year in 1999 to 1,619,025 units. Despite trailing the market, Volkswagen (+3.6%) becomes the first manufacturer in Chinese history to hit 300,000 annual sales. It…
The VW Santana continues to dominate the Chinese charts. The Chinese new vehicle market only edges up 0.8% year-on-year in 1998 to 1,496,210 units, yet still an all-time record. Volkswagen (+9.5%) scores a robust result in the brands pole position with almost 300,000 sales and more than double the volume…
The VW Santana 2000 is only 3,000 sales below the Santana in 1997. New vehicle sales in China accelerate their growth in 1997 at +11.9% year-on-year to 1,484,948 units. Brand leader Volkswagen (+19.8%) outraces the market to easily top the charts with over 270,000 sales. FAW Tianjin (+4%) follows but…
The VW Santana 2000 is cannibalising Santana sales. The Chinese new vehicle market continues to slow down its growth in 1996 to just +5.4% year-on-year at 1,326,831 sales. The Top 5 most popular brands all outpace the market. Volkswagen (+26%) tightens its grip on the charts, leaving FAW Tianjin (+16.1%)…
The VW Santana 2000 has landed in China. 1,258,702 new vehicles found a buyer in China in 1995, a shy 7.3% year-on-year improvement. The Chinese market is showing signs of slowing down after gaining just 11% in 1994 vs. 44.3% in 1993. In any case, Volkswagen (+46.2%) widens the gap…
In October 1984, Volkswagen signed a contract with the STAC (Shanghai Tractor Automobile Corporation), along with the CNAIC (China National Automotive Industry Corporation) and the Bank of China to form the Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive joint venture. This JV was established to build the VW Santana, in spite of its limited success…
FAW Tianjin ends the year just 7,300 sales below Volkswagen. The Chinese new vehicle market slows down its growth in 1994 at "just" +11% year-on-year to 1,173,151 sales. Volkswagen (+9.3%) is slower and is now threatened by FAW Tianjin (+69.7%) only 7,300 units below. Yuejin (+80.8%) is up seven spots…
Volkswagen sold 100,030 units of the Santana in China in 1993. This year more than one million new vehicles were sold in China for the first time, at 1,056,679. That's a whopping 44.5% year-on-year improvement. Volkswagen (+32.7%) easily keeps the lead yet can't quite match the market growth, resulting in…
The FAW Tianjin Xiali is a Daihatsu Charade manufactured under license. The Chinese new vehicle market grows 45.7% year-on-year in 1992 to 731,064 units. The five top selling brands gain even more ground than the market. Volkswagen (+68.9%) continues to lead with 11.6% of the market, distancing Isuzu (+147.8%). FAW…
The VW Santana is the best-selling vehicle in China in 1991. 501,838 new vehicles were registered in China in 1991, a 38.3% year-on-year surge. Volkswagen leads the way with over 50,000 sales, well above Isuzu (just under 15,000), Toyota (almost 12,800) and Beijing Jeep (11,300). FAW Tianjin rounds out the…
Fiat 126p taxi in Shanghai, China * See the Full article by clicking on the title! * Up until 1979, cars were an extremely rare sight on Chinese roads, only high ranking civil servants were permitted to have cars and a privately owned vehicle was unthinkable. In the early eighties, China…