China: Light truck sales surpass one million mark for first time in 2007
Friday, February 15, 2008, AutomotiveWorld.com
According to Gasgoo.com, which quotes a statement from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, more than one million light-duty trucks (1.8-6.0 tons) were sold in the country in 2007, a year-on-year rise of 18%.
Apart from these CBU light-duty trucks, some 99,600 unfinished (chassis) vehicles were also sold in China last year, a 3% gain on numbers for CY2006. The Association notes that the 4.5-6.0 ton segment had the highest percentage sales rise year-on-year.
Beiqi Foton, Dongfeng Motor and Jianghuai Auto (JAC) were the top three OEMs among the domestic makes, selling a combined 546,600 light trucks and taking 40% of that segment of the market.
In calendar 2007, Foton's sales revenue reached Yuan 27.86bn (US$3.87bn), a 41% year-on-year gain. The OEM's total light truck sales rose 11% to 319,000 units in CY2007, giving it a 29% share of the national light truck market.
"This is the ninth year in a row that Foton has successfully defended its top seller position in China's light truck market," Zhao Jingguang, a company spokesman, has stated.
In 2007, some 2.49 million commercial vehicles were sold in China, with Foton grabbing a 16% share. The company also notes that it exported close to 30,000 commercial vehicles, a 240% surge year-on-year.
Published on Friday, February 15, 2008
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