The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said that automobile sales were 1,607,200 units in May, a decrease -1% compared with April, but an increase 16% compared with the same period of last year. Western economist are worried that the Chinese economy is slowing down, which could have negative implications for western automakers operating there.
Among the main automobile categories, passenger car sales were 1,281,900 units, an increase of 0.46% compared with last month, and up 22.56% year-on-year. Sales of commercial vehicles increased to 325,300 units, lower than the previous 6.63%, and down -4.3% y-o-y.
General Motors, the world’s largest automaker, and its joint ventures sold a May record of 231,183 vehicles in China. Demand was up for the Chinese market leader 21.3% from the same month in 2011 and 1.7% from April of this year, clearly outpacing the Chinese market.
At Ford China, increased sales of passenger cars partially offset a slump in light commercial vehicles during May, which led to an 8% increase year-over-year at 48,608, vehicles. BMW sold 27,815 vehicles, an increase of 31.5% over the same month last year
From January to May, Chinese auto sales exceeded 8,023,500 units, an increase of only 1.7% percent from a year earlier. Passenger car sales increase 5.5% y-o-y to about 6,330,000 units; commercial vehicle sales exceeded 1,693,500 units, a decrease of -10.31% from a year earlier.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
