Combined automotive sales in China fell year-on-year for the first time since February this year, dropping 1.8% to 1.62 million passenger and commercial vehicles in September. One of the factors behind last month’s decline in sales was the sharp fall in sales of Japanese vehicles, due to tensions over the Diaoyu islands, China Daily reports.
According to figures published by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), passenger vehicle sales dipped 0.3% to 1.32 million units in September, with a more significant 7.6% fall in the commercial vehicle market to 301,800 units.
Last month, sales of Japanese branded vehicles plunged 40.8% year-on-year to 160,000 units (down by 29.5% on August 2012 levels). This drop in sales of Japanese vehicles, however, pushed up sales of vehicles from other countries.
“The Japanese automakers’ sales decline will continue for a long time. The Japanese government should build a peaceful relationship with neighbouring countries to reach long-term economic development across Asia,” China Daily quotes Dong Yang, General Secretary of CAAM, as saying.
While sales of Japanese brands declined last month, German vehicle sales rose 13.8%; South Korean brands improved 9.4%; sales of US brands expanded by 15.1% and French brands rose 9.2%. Sales of local passenger vehicle brands improved year-on-year by 7.5%.
General Motors’ Chinese joint venture, Shanghai GM led the country’s passenger vehicle market last month. Shanghai GM was followed by Volkswagen’s local JVs, FAW-Volkswagen and Shanghai Volkswagen. GM, Ford, Hyundai and Kia all reported record-high September sales.
