Hongqi Retail sales are up 85.8% in a market down -20.4%. As expected, after an artificial 41.7% surge last month due to pulled forward registrations ahead of the Stage 6 emissions standards implementation on July 1, the Chinese Retail market (end-customer registrations) falls back to earth in July at -20.4%…
The Toyota Alphard Hybrid has landed in China. After soaring 184.8% to an all-time record 211.378 unit volume in June, sales of New Energy vehicles (or electrified vehicles) were expected to be less spectacular in July but a downright year-on-year drop (-6.1%) is certainly not what carmakers bargained for. The year-to-date…
The new generation ES lifts Lexus sales up 37.4% in July in China. After a freak 73.3% surge in June due to rushed sales of non-compliant vehicles ahead of the implementation of Stage 6 Emission rules on July 1, sales of imported vehicles in China logically recede -13.4% in July…
After exploring the Chinese wholesales market for July, it is now time to focus on the all-new locally-produced launches for the month, so you know you are up-to-date on the fastest-evolving automotive market in the world. Note these updates are based on wholesales figures, and sometimes new nameplates appear first in…
The VW Tayron is the third best-selling SUV in China in July. Factory shipments to dealerships, or wholesales, continue to decline in China with July marking 13 consecutive negative months but at -4.3% to 1.808.000 units, this is the slimmest year-on-year drop since the Chinese market abruptly started to hit…
Jinbei LCV sales gain 8% in a market down -24% in June. Wholesales of Light Commercial vehicles in China freefall -24% year-on-year in June to 231.047 units, tilting the year-to-date tally down -5% to 1.606.503. Wuling (-34%) easily remains the best-selling carmaker despite a devastating loss, distancing Foton (+4%) one…
Honda posts the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 13. A last minute sales rush in June to clear out non-compliant vehicles ahead of the implementation of Stage 6 emissions standards means the Chinese retail market is actually up 4.6% over H1 2019 to 10.630.614 units. It has been a…
Roewe retail sales more than double year-on-year in June. There is now a May 2019 Retail sales article here. Up 41.7% year-on-year, retail sales in China this month offer us the starkest possible contrast with wholesales figures, down -9.6%. Before Stage 6 emissions standards come into place in two-thirds of…
The Chery eQ1 hits a new volume record just under 9.000 sales. There is now a New Energy May 2019 article here. After hitting the brakes in May (-1.7%), the New Energy market in China is back with a vengeance, up 184.8% in June to an all-time record 211.378 units,…
In a remake of the 2018 European Summer, Alfa Romeo sales are up 1098.1% before State 6 emissions rules are put in place. There is now a China Imports May 2019 article - see here. In June, we can clearly witness the clearing of unsold State 5 stocks ahead of…
The Hongqi HS7 has arrived. After detailing national trends in our June 2019 wholesales update, it is now time to focus on the all-new locally-produced launches for the month, so you can make sure you are updated on the fastest-evolving automotive market in the world. Note these updates are based…
Honda manages to swim upstream in China, and the facelifted XR-V will continue the trend in H2. It's a Semester to forget for new light vehicle wholesales in China, down a ghastly -12.4% year-on-year over the First Half of 2019 to 12.323.000 units. This cancels four years of growth, represents…
The new Aion S EV helps GAC sales up 28% in a market down -9.6%. The loop is looped: with a -9.6% year-on-year decline in June, the Chinese wholesales market has now been down for a full year or 12 consecutive months, something that hadn't happened in at least 30…
The Foton Light Truck teases the Wuling Mini Truck for the #1 LCV spot this month. Whereas it had managed to hold up extremely well so far this year, the Chinese Light Commercial Vehicle market falls off a cliff in May at -15% to just 250.843 units, tilting the year-to-date…
It's thumbs up from me on the BYD Tang EV. I kept the best for last, and this final iteration of this China Test Drives 2019 series following the Shanghai Auto Show details the most impressive car I got to drive this year: the BYD Tang EV. BYD (for Build…