Sales and output in China's auto industry nearly matched each other as both surpassed 700,000 units in January, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

 

January output totaled 761,900 units, 12.6 percent more than in December and a robust growth of 45.03 percent compared to the same month a year ago.

 

Figures also showed that sales reached 717,000 units, a 5.47 percent decline from the previous month, but 34.37 percent higher than last January.

 

Sales and output for passenger cars continued to increase, but sales of multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) dropped.

 

Passenger cars had unit sales of 414,500, a 2.05 percent drop from the previous month, but 39.05 percent more than last January.

 

China's homegrown auto brands showed outstanding performance, taking the biggest market share, with sales of 126,700 units, 16.95 percent higher that last December, and accounting for 30.57 percent of total car sales.

 

Japanese brands were second in sales, with 107,400 units, 30.57 percent of China's total auto sales, followed by German brands with 70,500 cars and US makes, of which 55,300 cars were sold.

 

German cars had a market share of 17.01 percent and US carmakers took 13.34 percent of sales. Volkswagen's Santana model retained its No 1 spot with sales of 16,500 units.

 

China's independent Chery Tiggo and Jianghuai Refine occupied the first positions of best-selling sports-utility vehicles and MPVs.

 

Statistics from General Motors China showed that in January, the group's total sales reached 101,926 units, breaking through the 100,000 monthly barrier for the first time.

 

(China Daily February 15, 2007)