Comments on: China first quarter sedan sales - Santana wins again!

By: joninchina

joninchina — Mon, 19 May 2008 02:58:42 +0000

You know, it’s apples and oranges here. I do not dispute that fact that Chery/Geely might have lost ground when it comes to sales rankings for the first quarter this year. HOWEVER, is it ALSO a fact that both Chery and Geely continue to increase their year on end sales numbers - in other words they keep on selling higher numbers of cars year after year. Another question - if we REMOVE the “fleet sales” (i.e. taxi sales) from the Jetta and Santana (and now even the Elantra and Passat), what would their sales numbers REALLY be like? Finally, my comments regarding all the new small cars were meant more as a “look into the future” so to speak - I was unclear about that. I know that sales figures RIGHT NOW represent some strong numbers for mid-size cars - but I really don’t see it remaining that way. For even the middle class chinese citizens, higher gas prices, higher insurance rates, higher highway taxes, higher food costs, higher tuition costs for their children, etc. are ALL going to be a factor in many people opting to “downsize” and have a more economical means of transportation. Today’s small cars DO offer comfort and safety and enough room for a family…..just in a smaller package. The old adage “small cars are unsafe” just isn’t true anymore - look at the recent crash test ratings for the Smart car in America!! Yes, I know that small cars will never be as safe as larger cars….but they are NOT ‘unsafe’ anymore. Mid-size and large cars will never go away (there IS a purpose for them), but I do think that more and more chinese buyers will NOT be thinking “bigger is better” in the future. More educated buyers ALSO means a higher level of awareness in the reality of today’s world. Small cars WILL be a solid part of the chinese car market in the future…..with global warming, diminishing oil supplies and higher pollution in the cities - there isn’t really much of a choice here.

By: Jonny Boy

Jonny Boy — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:34:37 +0000

That’s right. In China, cars = VWs to some degree. They are everyone’s cars.

By: mark

mark — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:20:38 +0000

My award for the best quality of car for taxis in a city goes to Hangzhou. Lots of Passats, Sonatas, Hongqis, Boras, and BS6s. In Shanghai it is still largely the Santana with a few other models. A few years back there was a fleet of Mercs here but they were too expensive and withdrawn.

However, on Friday night I saw an Audi A6 taxi and today I saw a Buick Lacrosse here (Shanghai). Not sure if these cost more or not.

By: Moldova Online TV

Moldova Online TV — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:57:17 +0000

From this first quarter sedan sales report looks that VW is very popular among Chinese people.

By: mememe

mememe — Sun, 18 May 2008 09:30:53 +0000

and it looks very promising.

By: mememe

mememe — Sun, 18 May 2008 09:25:26 +0000

Chery’s Eastar 6 (A7) is comming soon I think.

By: Mike Sikora

Mike Sikora — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:21:57 +0000

Dear Joinchina,

introducing a bunch of small(sub)compact cars (QQ3, QQ5, QQ6, BYD F1, BenBen, GWM Peri, …) on recnt auto salons does not mean that the more experienced and better funded Chinese car buyer in urban, costal areas of P.R.China are interesting to buy them in future.

What the CAAM - Chinese Association of Automotive Manufacture - figures REALLY revealed for the first time in China was the fact, that the fast emerging middle-class are not so “nationalised and China-loyal” in terms of car brands as some local OEM expected them to be.

They want to buy a safe and secure family car (!) plus the comfort factor with low maintenance fees. They already understand what’s a 3-4 CNCAP-rating means to their family in terms of a car accident and that the quality of the chassis with a low-gas consumption 1.6-1.8l engine under the bonnet is more important that a fancy exterior design.

In terms of total passenger car sales, Chery secured only the 4th rank in Q1-2008 as the company managed successfully to export their cars - about 30K volume - to emerging overseas markets. In mainland China Chery dropped back to the 9th rank.

It is a matter of fact, that Geely and even now Chery is loosing ground in fast developping Chinese car market, cause these Chinese middle class either spent 100K-130K RMB for new VW Lavida, GM Buick Excelle or and opt for a quality Chinese brand such as FAW Besturn or a Brilliance BS4 or BS6 sedan.

I have been driving for 2 years a Chery Eaststar but now i am going to sell it and change brand too, as the long announced A6 did not hit the market yet.

This is really disappointing; Chery does not have any real alternative at its flagstores then the old copy of Daewoo Magnus of year 2001 in the mid-sized, C2 segment.

Cheers!

By: joninchina

joninchina — Sat, 17 May 2008 01:39:04 +0000

Small and cheap chinese brands gone soon?? Don’t think so. Chinese car buyers ARE more educated and experienced now…which means that small car sales will most likely INCREASE, not decrease. How do you account for the fact that MORE small cars debuted this year than any other (in the last 5-6 years)? New models from Chery, Geely, Great Wall, BYD, Changan, Xiali - even Toyota is bringing in the Yaris this year. MUCH higher gas prices, government incentives for small cars (little or NO sales tax), lower insurance, etc….all signs point to a increase in sales of small cars. You also said “bye bye” to the QQ? Hmmmmmmm…..let’s see - new QQ2, new QQ5 (sport QQ), QQ6 as well as the QQ3. I don’t see the QQ series saying “bye bye” ANYTIME soon!! Small cars are HERE TO STAY - most of the current models feature ABS, EBD, airbags (as standard features), along with most of the upscale comforts that larger cars enjoy (CD/MP3, climate control, power everything). These cars might be ’small’, but they’re NOT ‘cheap’ anymore!

By: Mike Sikora

Mike Sikora — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:42:45 +0000

Dear all,

CAAM figures looks a bit different, espec. if you compare production vs. sales, reflecting customer expectations.

The days of small & cheap China brands seems to be gone soon.

Chery for instance cannot launch fast enough new safe family mid-sized B/C1 segment sedans.

Chinese car buyers are more educated & experienced now: QQ bye, bye….

Carline I-III Prod. III Sale I-III Sales
Jetta 51.333 20.188 53.594
Santana 62.921 19.550 53.219
Excelle 53.553 18.034 50.664
Corolla 42.711 14.908 40.242
Elanta 42.135 12.011 39.670
Camry 42.285 13.677 38.587
FAWXial 35.400 11.886 35.987
Tiida 33.953 10.874 34.154
Accord 36.864 21.068 33.921
Focus 35.438 11.995 32.335
BYD F3 27.972 8.858 31.521
Passat 35.410 11.604 30.035
Lova 33.056 10.085 29.068
CheryQQ 41.733 9.725 27.570

By: joninchina

joninchina — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:31:46 +0000

I have a POSSIBLE reason for the Passat GP being in the top 10………taxi sales. Ash, I don’t know about Qingdao, but here in Nanning the Passat is becoming a new choice for taxis. I am going to assume that it’s also the same way in other cities as well…….I must say it’s the most comfortable taxi I’ve ever been in!! Doesn’t cost anymore either (in Chengdu they charge more for the new Sagitar taxis then they do for the older Jetta/Santana taxis) which is REALLY amazing!