China 2009 auto sales could hit 11m
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
BEIJING, June 9 (AFP): China's auto sales could hit a record 11 million units this year, state press reported today, as government stimulus measures to encourage buying kick in.
The forecast came after figures showed strong growth on purchases for the first five months, the China Daily said, citing the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
Sales of passenger vehicles-including minivans, sports utility vehicles and multipurpose carriers-hit a monthly record of 812,178 in May, up 54.7 per cent year on year, according to CPCA data.
That brought total passenger car sales in the first five months to 3.64 million units, up 29.6 per cent from the same period last year, the data showed.
"The growth in the passenger car segment will probably continue in June to hit a new monthly record," said Rao Da, CPCA's secretary-general, adding sales in the second half are expected to be much better than in the first six months.
The association said sales in 2009 will "definitely" break the 10 million mark and could reach 11 million units, according to the China Daily.
China's auto sales outstripped the United States to become the world's largest car market for the first time in January, helped by Beijing's incentives to boost domestic consumption.
These measures included slashing purchase taxes on cars with engines smaller than 1.6 litres and subsidising alternative energy vehicles.
Ailing US auto giant General Motors said last week its sales in China jumped 75 per cent year on year in May to a monthly high of 156,000 units, mainly boosted by strong sales of minivans, which enjoy government subsidies.
In 2008, sales of vehicles in China rose about eight per cent to 9.4 million units-a modest growth rate by Chinese standards as demand was hit by the global downturn.
The forecast came after figures showed strong growth on purchases for the first five months, the China Daily said, citing the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
Sales of passenger vehicles-including minivans, sports utility vehicles and multipurpose carriers-hit a monthly record of 812,178 in May, up 54.7 per cent year on year, according to CPCA data.
That brought total passenger car sales in the first five months to 3.64 million units, up 29.6 per cent from the same period last year, the data showed.
"The growth in the passenger car segment will probably continue in June to hit a new monthly record," said Rao Da, CPCA's secretary-general, adding sales in the second half are expected to be much better than in the first six months.
The association said sales in 2009 will "definitely" break the 10 million mark and could reach 11 million units, according to the China Daily.
China's auto sales outstripped the United States to become the world's largest car market for the first time in January, helped by Beijing's incentives to boost domestic consumption.
These measures included slashing purchase taxes on cars with engines smaller than 1.6 litres and subsidising alternative energy vehicles.
Ailing US auto giant General Motors said last week its sales in China jumped 75 per cent year on year in May to a monthly high of 156,000 units, mainly boosted by strong sales of minivans, which enjoy government subsidies.
In 2008, sales of vehicles in China rose about eight per cent to 9.4 million units-a modest growth rate by Chinese standards as demand was hit by the global downturn.