Q1 sales higher than expected

First-quarter auto sales in China grew by more than 13 percent compared to the same period last year, outpacing estimates, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Of the 5.42 million units sold, about 4.23 million were passenger vehicles, up 17.21 percent. Sales of commercial vehicles dropped 1.72 percent, a slower decline than what was seen a year ago.

Renault aims to move 40k units

French automaker Renault hopes to sell 40,000 units in 2013, said Chen Guozhang, CEO of Renault Greater China, in a recent interview. He said four models - Koleos, Megane, Latitude, and Fluence - will be locally made. Last year, Renault sold 29,724 units, growing 22.4 percent from a year ago. The Koleos was the company's highest-selling model, accounting for 90 percent.

Kia venture to debut green car

Dongfeng Yueda Kia said it will debut Huaqi, its wholly owned pure-electric car brand, during the Shanghai Auto Show later this month. Based on Kia's compact Cerato, Huaqi is only differentiated by its logo, which is in the shape of an "X". Driven by an electric engine, it can reach peak power of 30kW and a top speed of 110 km/h.

Auto Shanghai ready to roll

The largest international motor show in China's history - the Shanghai Auto Show - will be held from April 21 to 29. Nearly 2,000 automobile and component manufacturers from 18 countries and regions will be present at the event. Some 1,300 vehicles will be showcased, including 111 world premieres and 49 Asia debuts. There will be 69 concept cars and 91 alternative-energy vehicles on display.

Airbag recall hits home

Four Japanese automakers - Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda - and their joint ventures in China will recall 32,622 vehicles in the country due to defective airbags, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced on April 11. Toyota will recall 5,100 units; Honda, 2,300; Nissan, 760, and Mazda, 24,500. This is part of a global recall of around 3.4 million vehicles.

VW strong in first quarter

Sales by Shanghai Volkswagen surpassed the 400,000-unit mark in the first three months of this year, the company announced recently. It sold nearly 409,000 units in China during that time, an increase of 27.8 percent from a year earlier. In March alone, it delivered nearly 132,000 units, up 23.6 percent from the same period last year.

Motoring

(China Daily 04/15/2013 page18)