According to statistics from Gasgoo.com (Chinese), a total of 2.11 million passenger automobiles were sold in China in November. The figure represents positive year-on-year growth of 24.6%. This marks the first month this year that passenger automobile sales broke the two million barrier. Among the various submarkets, the SUV segment was especially strong. A total of 715,083 SUVs were sold in the country, up 69.5% year-on-year. By comparison, growth rates in among sedan and minivan sales were just 9.0% and 14.0%, respectively. The SUV segment accounted for just over one-third of the passenger automobile market. SUV sales growth rates have been very high throughout the whole of the year, with this month being the highest.
Great Wall Motor remained the country’s best-seller of SUVs in November, followed by Beijing Hyundai, Shanghai GM, Dongfeng Nissan, Changan Automobiles, SAIC-GM-Wuling, Changan Ford, JAC Motor, Dongfeng Honda and Shanghai VW. All of these manufacturers were able to achieve positive year-on-year growth rates for their SUV sales, with both Shanghai GM and Dongfeng Honda posting growth rates in the triple digits. Such high sales volumes and growth rates are signs of how strong the SUV market in China is going.
Own brand automobiles continued to lead the SUV segment in November, with total sales of 392,249 vehicles, representing year-on-year growth of 86.4%. Own brands accounted for 54.9% of all SUVs sold in the country. The best performing foreign brand SUVs were made by Japanese marquees. Japanese SUV sales during the course of the month totaled 109,927 units, up 49.2% from last November. American SUV sales totaled 69,368 units, representing year-on-year growth of 80.4%. Korean, German and French SUV sales growth rates were 52.1%, 41.1% and 21.8%, respectively.
Compact SUVs continued to be the major driver in the segment. 414,336 compact SUVs were sold in November, up 57.9% from the previous year. Meanwhile, small SUV, midsize SUV and mid-large SUV sales totaled 184,346 units, 110,460 units and 5,941 units, respectively.
The best-selling SUV in the country in November was the Great Wall Haval H6, followed by the SAIC-GM-Wuling Baojun 560, GAC Trumpchi GS4, VW Tiguan, Buick Envision, Changan CS75, JAC Refine S3, Nissan X-Trail, Great Wall Haval H2 and BAIC S3. Seven of the models on the list, including all of the top three, were made by own brands.
Great Wall’s Haval H6 led the November charts with sales of 40,311 units, representing year-on-year growth of 30.0%. The Baojun 560 and Trumpchi GS4 also performed strongly, with their respective monthly sales volumes totaling 31,228 units and 24,650 units. These two new models both managed to outperform the popular VW Tiguan, the best-selling foreign brand SUV of the month. Also performing strongly were the Buick Envision and Changan CS75, whose monthly sales totaled 21,559 units and 20,812 units, respectively.
