China, the world's largest automotive market, released its sales and production figures for 2014 this month, reporting a 9.9% increase on the year before.
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) reported that 19.7 million cars, SUVs and minivans were sold on the Chinese mainland last year. A total of 23.5 million vehicles were sold, including buses and trucks. However, the rate of increase is slowing – 2014's 9.9% sales growth was significantly lower than 2013's, when sales increased 16%. The Association predicts a growth rate of 7% this year.
CAAM said that sales were “stable” and blamed factors outside of the automotive sector as responsible for the slowdown. “Faced with a complex international environment and the arduous task of domestic reform, development and stability, the auto sector ... achieved sound development,” it said.
Another source of disappointment for CAAM was the continuing trend of a decrease in market share for Chinese domestic brands, while foreign imports continued to grow. According to customs data, 1.4 million cars, SUVs and minibuses were imported into China last year, 20.7% more than in 2013. In contrast, sales of Chinese brand cars were down 17.4%.
The top 10 list of best-selling cars in China is also dominated by German and US brands, Volkswagen and General Motors, albeit with cars produced in China via industrial partnerships. In total the top ten represents 3.6 million vehicles, 18.2% of all the cars sold.
China's Top 10 cars in 2014:
1. SAIC-GM Wuling Hong Guang
Some 750,000 Hong Guang MPVs were sold last year in China. The car, which is manufactured by a joint venture between the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), Liuzhou Wuling Motors and General Motors (GM) China. The standard version of the car costs £4,675 new and it is marketed as the Chevrolet Enjoy in India.
2. Changan Ford Focus
First launched in 2005, last year 391,800 Focuses were sold in China, bring the total accumulated sales of the car there close to 2 million. There are 11 models of the Focus available in China. The car is made in Chongqinq and the engines in Nanjing, by a joint venture comprised of Chinese automotive firm Changan, Ford and Mazda.
3. Shanghai Volkswagen Lavida
Following close to the Focus is this saloon car, which sold 372,000 units last year. Manufactured by joint venture with SAIC, a partnership which goes back to 1984, the car was originally launched in 2008. The current second generation version was launched in 2012 and is based on the same platform as the Skoda Octavia.
4. Great Wall Haval H6
The highest ranking SUV, with 315,900 sold last year, the Haval is made by Chinese manufacturer Great Wall in Tianjin and first hit China's roads in 2011. An iteration of the company's previous SUVs, the H5 and H3, the car has been exported to Europe. Great Wall is seen as one of the domestic brands with most potential in China, but received a knock-back last year when the firm had to cease production of its premium Haval H8 car because of quality concerns.
5. Shanghai Volkswagen Santana
Another car produced by VW's SAIC partnerhsip, one of the two joint ventures the German carmaker has in China, 307,300 Santana's were sold in China last year. The current model is based on the same platform as the Skoda Rapid and Seat Toledo. The Santana builds upon the success of its predecessor, the Chinese version of the second-generation Passat, which became one of the first cars to be mass produced and sold in China in 1981.
6. Dongfeng-Nissan Sylphy
Some 300,100 Sylphys were sold in China last year. The compact saloon car is built under licence in Guangzhou by the Dongfeng Motor Company – Nissan partnership and was launched in 2012. Nissan says the car is sold in 120 countries, sometimes under the name Sentra.
7.FAW-VW Sagitar
VW's other joint venture in China produces the Sagitar, which sold 300,100 units last year. The car is based on the Jetta model and is made by FAW Group in a partnership that began in 1991. The small family car hit global headlines last year when the car was recalled because of problems reported with its rear axle.
8. FAW-VW Jetta
The new version of China's Jetta sold 297,000 units last year and is based on the same platform as the Santana car by VW's SAIC partnership. The Jetta is another stalwart of the Chinese automotive sector. The original was first produced in the early 1990s and was a top-seller in China until production ceased in 2013.
9. Shanghai General Motors Buick Excelle
Around 293,100 Buick Excelles were sold last year. Produced by the SAIC-GM partnership the first generation of the car was based on the Daewoo Lacetti. The current Buick Excelle is based on GM's global Delta II compact car platform, which was developed at Opel's International Technical Development Centre in Germany.
10. Shanghai General Motors Chevrolet Cruze
SAIC-GM's compact saloon sold 266,000 units last year. The Cruze, the most recent version of which is also based on GM's Delta II platform, is produced and sold around the world. China is the Cruze's largest market, with almost 1.5 million sold in the country since it was launched in 2009.