Toyota's China sales rise sharply, GM lags

[toyotafanfan]

Good update on what's happening in china:

Toyota sold 285,000 vehicles in the country in January-June, up 34 percent from a year earlier and double the 17 percent growth rate of the overall market

Volkswagen

Sales of the the top European automaker came to 531,612 units in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau in January-June, up 23.3 percent year-on-year and nearly twice 12.7 percent pace at GM, the only major foreign automaker in China that lagged the pace of overall market growth.
GM sold 590,126 vehicles in China during the period.

Sales at Honda Motor rose 21.3 percent in the first half to 226,742 units

Ford Motor
also a relative newcomer to the market, reported a 21 percent rise in vehicle sales to 172,411 units

Looks like VW could surpass GM.

"Volkswagen and GM still have the first-mover advantage here in China, but the late-comers, especially the Japanese, have been catching up very fast," said Yi Junfeng, an industry analyst with Changjiang Securities.

Nothing more motivating to a Toyota Division than taking market share from companies in front of them.

The mid-sized Accord sedan accounted for nearly one-third of Honda's China sales in the first half, boosted by a revamped version rolled out in January.
For GM, inexpensive Wuling-brand models made at a commercial vehicle tie-up in south China accounted for 56 percent of its first-half sales total.
"GM's pace is slowing down in China because it lacks new models. It faces a bigger challenge in the second half with the fuel price hike," said Yi.

Hmmm... where have we heard a similar story....

Higher pump prices may have a more serious impact on GM and Ford as U.S. cars are perceived as less fuel efficient than European and Japanese models, analysts said.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/govern...BrandChannel=0

Fan

[ECHOKnight2000]

Will GM become a Chinese market only company? Probably not but interesting thought. Still the sad thing is their doing better over there than the U.S.

Its a good thing for Toyota and Honda. Must be a new generation buying those cause obviously being Japanese they have a general stigma.

China is poise along with India to be come the top auto market in the world. Although China needs to not only get copyright act together but more so emissions enforcement cause they be pollin'! Hence the Olympics not as clean.

[SILVERadoTACOMA]

China is growin' way too fast... won't be long before we have $6-8/gal gas.

[cpruitt]

It's funny how the title says GM lags but yet they have more units sold than a majority of the other manufacturers. I see their growth is slowing but I would assume 590k units sold and a 12% growth rate is far better than 226k units sold and a 21% growth rate.

[ECHOKnight2000]

Originally Posted by SILVERadoTACOMA

China is growin' way too fast... won't be long before we have $6-8/gal gas.

I agree. But it won't be the interest of the U.S. or the world if China bursts. Actually, their gas is rising as well, last I heard. Although I'm wondering at the rate their going they will burst. Although the infrastructure is not so great so that will catch up to them. It has in some respects (Olympics).

[Sulu]

Originally Posted by cpruitt

It's funny how the title says GM lags but yet they have more units sold than a majority of the other manufacturers. I see their growth is slowing but I would assume 590k units sold and a 12% growth rate is far better than 226k units sold and a 21% growth rate.

GM's and Volkswagen's numbers are so high in part because they were 2 of the earliest auto manufacturers to set up shop in China. Toyota and Honda are quite late setting up shop, so GM and Volkswagen have a number of years of head start.

Yet now, the late-comers have a greater year-over-year growth than the well-established GM, and soon, GM may lose that top spot, just like they may be losing top spot in North America, in part because they have no new product.

[SILVERadoTACOMA]

Originally Posted by ECHOKnight2000

I agree. But it won't be the interest of the U.S. or the world if China bursts. Actually, their gas is rising as well, last I heard.

Their Gov. is removing/reducing (can't remember which) fuel subsidies.

[84Cressida]

"Toyota will never sell one car in China"

"GM is the greatest in china"


Anyone remember just a few years back the GM folk were spewing that?

[CarGuyLee]

Originally Posted by 84Cressida

"Toyota will never sell one car in China"

"GM is the greatest in china"


Anyone remember just a few years back the GM folk were spewing that?

no

[100$ GUY]

More interesting will be the end of the year numbers.