On the jam-packed elevated highways of China's commercial capital, the big sedans that once dominated the local car market are sharing lanes with a growing number of compact upstarts.

Boxy Volkswagen Santana sedans and sleek black Buick Regals made by joint ventures between foreign automakers and domestic companies still far outnumber the economy models on local roads, but that's fast changing. Demand is shifting away from big sedans long favored by government buyers and the upwardly mobile to economy models popular with families getting their first cars.

New entrants — both homegrown and Chinese-foreign joint ventures — are giving serious competition to established joint ventures such as those of General Motors Corp. and Volkswagen AG. Profits are sliding, thanks to price wars and rising costs. Volkswagen, whose flagship product in China is not the Beetle but the mid-sized, four-door Santana, saw its operating profit in China more than halved last year to US$280 million.

Cutbacks on government vehicle buying and lending for auto purchases are prompting domestic car buyers who might otherwise have splurged on a pricier status symbol to opt for more affordable models. Now that ordinary buyers, not officials, dominate the market, smaller cars are attractive, given incomes average just over US$1,000 a year. Gas prices averaging US$1.60 a gallon and tightening government fuel efficiency standards, making compact cars a more logical choice for small families.

The three top-selling models in China during the first four months of the year were all economy models, according to the China Automobile Manufacturers Association (CAMA): the Elantra, from South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Co., Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co.'s TJ7101U — an angular compact-and Chery Automobile Co.'s perky little QQ mini-car. Japanese automaker Honda, which introduced the Fit compact car last September, saw 20 percent growth in sales in the first four months of the year.

The upstarts built suitable small cars at reasonable prices, said Yale Zhang, an auto market specialist for consulting firm CSM Asia Corp. in Shanghai. A QQ sells for US$4,800 to US$5,400, while the cheapest Santanas sell for between US$10,000 and US$12,000. He added that makers were boosted by the recent introduction of new models to meet increased demand for economy models.

According to January to April figures compiled by CSM, Beijing Hyundai's sales soared 132 percent from a year earlier; Tianjin FAW Xiali, which makes the TJ7101U, saw sales shoot up 44 percent and Guangzhou Honda's sales climbed 51 percent.

By contrast, GM's joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. — which makes Buicks, Chevys and Cadillacs — was down 23 percent and Shanghai VW, Volkswagen's 20-year-old venture with SAIC saw sales plunge 61 percent.

GM acknowledged the changing market when it announced in February a new series of small and mid-size Chevrolets aimed at the market of under-40 young professionals buying their first cars.

GM went even further Thursday when it announced its joint venture, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., would purchase a former automobile plant in Qingdao to increase production of mini-vehicles.

With mini-car sales forecast to surpass one million units this year, the expansion was vital for meeting demand, said Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group.

(Shenzhen Daily June 6, 2005)