While the SUV market in China experienced rapid growth in 2015, sedan sales in the country fell over the course of the year. That said, sedan sales still account for a majority of all passenger automobile sales made in the country. According to statistics compiled by Gasgoo.com (Chinese), 58.0% of all passenger automobile sales were of sedans. The midsize sedan segment remains one of the key segments in the sedan market, accounting for 18.7% of all sedan sales completed over the course of the year, and is one of the strongest areas of competitions between various brands. Midsize sedan sales in 2015 totaled 2.19 million units, down 1.2% year-on-year.
Own brand midsize sedan sales in 2015 totaled 134,007 units, up a full 43.0% from similar figures from the previous year.
Korean midsize sedan sales also achieved positive year-on-year sales growth, with a total of 330,927 units. Other foreign brands did not perform as well in the segment, with German, Japanese and American midsize sedan sales falling 6.0%, 3.0% and 6.0%, respectively. Despite the downturn in sales, German, Japanese and American brand still dominate the midsize sedan segment, with German midsize sedan sales totaling 707,188 units.
Shanghai GM was the top seller of midsize sedans in 2015, followed by FAW-VW, Beijing Hyundai, Shanghai VW, Guangqi Honda, Guangqi Toyota, Changan Ford, Dongfeng Nissan, Dongfeng Yueda Kia and Brilliance BMW. The aforementioned ten brands sold a total of 1.77 million midsize sedans, accounting for 80.7% of all midsize sedans sold in China in 2015. Although domestic own brand manufacturers are achieving rapid sales growth in the midsize sedan segment, they still lag far behind joint venture enterprises, with not a single one making the top ten charts.
Shanghai GM sold a total of 312,663 midsize sedans, down 9.3% from the amount they sold in 2014. The downturn in sales was due mainly to the declining performance of the Chevrolet Malibu, whose sales fell 36.1% year-on-year. The Buick Regal’s sales fell 0.5% year-on-year, totaling 110,637 units. By comparison, the Buick Park Avenue’s sales in 2015, which totaled 85,005 units, grew 1.4% year-on-year.
Both FAW-VW and Shanghai VW also suffered negative year-on-year sales growth in 2015. FAW-VW’s sales for the year totaled 302,626 units, down 19.4% year-on-year. While sales of FAW-VW’s key models fell, the VW Magotan and Audi A4 still rank very high in the sales charts. Shanghai VW, whose sales fell 9.6% year-on-year, was in a similar situation. The JV’s VW Passat ranked as the best-selling midsize sedan of the year, with its sales totaling 205,794 units.
Guangqi Toyota also suffered negative year-on-year sales growth rates in the double digits. The JV sold a total of 128,046 units, down 14.8% year-on-year.
On the other end of the spectrum were Beijing Hyundai and Dongfeng Yueda Kia, both of which achieved positive year-on-year sales growth in 2015. Beijing Hyundai’s annual midsize sedan sales totaled 230,464 units, up 22.3% year-on-year, while midsize sedan sales of Dongfeng Yueda Kia totaled 100,463 units, up 15.5% year-on-year.
