Rebound for Japanese carmakers

The big three Japanese automakers reported a rebound in January after almost half a year of declining sales in China. Toyota sold 72,500 vehicles, up 24 percent from the same period of last year, while Honda delivered 47,248 units, an increase of 22 percent, and Nissan sold 115,700 vehicles, a 22 percent rise. But analysts noted the results are partly due to fewer working days last January when Spring Festival was celebrated.

Volvo: China surpasses Sweden

China has surpassed Volvo's home country Sweden to become the automaker's second-largest market after the US. Its January sales in China hit 4,776 units, an increase of 75.8 percent from a year ago. The company said it sold 29,614 vehicles across the globe in the same month. The imported mid-sized S60 sedan and imported SUV XC60 both set records for single month sales in China.

First auto interior air standard

China's first auto interior air quality standard will take effect on March 1. Issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, it defines the limits for eight common volatile organic materials including formaldehyde and benzene but carries no legal sanctions for violations.

Ford reports 98 percent rise

Ford delivered 61,475 vehicles in China in January, an increase of 98 percent from the holiday shortened sales period a year ago. Its passenger vehicle sales reached 44,439 units, a rise of 135 percent from the same month last year. Its joint venture with Chang'an sold 43,269 cars carrying the Ford nameplate, more than double the figure last January.

Torrid Shanghai GM sales continue

Shanghai GM, China's passenger vehicle sales champion last year, reported record high monthly sales in January. Its Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac brands sold a combined 161,426 units in the month, a year-on-year increase of 26.7 percent. Buick sold 86,509 units, rising 21.7 percent, Chevrolet delivered 73,347 units, up 37.4 percent, and the Cadillac luxury brand sold 2,972 units.

Separate sales for Dongfeng Yulon

The joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and Taiwan's Yulon Motor is planning an independent sales company that will be operational next year, according to the China.com.cn website. Hangzhou-based Dongfeng Yulon sold 31,106 vehicles in 2011, the majority of them its Luxgen 7 SUV that went on sale in the last half of the year. The company has set an annual sales target of 500,000 units by 2018.

Motoring

(China Daily 02/18/2013 page19)