Where to buy a Chinese car???

some info on FAW report

China's motor vehicle output reached 2.1401 million units in January-November 2001, an increase of 13.61% over the figure for the same period of 2000 and 3.4% over the 2.069 million units for the whole year of 2000. The sales in January-November hit 2.154 million units, up 15.77% over that for the same period of 2000. China's total motor vehicle demand in January-November 2001 reached 2.2201 million units, representing a rise of 0.3121 million units over the year-earlier period or the highest and fastest growth rate since 1994. Of the total production, car output accounted for 30.06%, indicating the trend of rational industrial structure.
The import and export were active, and the total import and export volume rose further. In January-October 2001, China's motor vehicle imports reached 66,039 units, up 92.73% year on year, and the exports stood at 21,370 units, down 12.05%. The top five suppliers of the imports were Germany, Japan, the United States, the Republic of Korea and Canada, while the top five designations of the exports were the United States, Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

The growth of the automotive industry in 2001 was attributed to steady growth of the macro economy and the implementation of favorable policies such as the Tenth Five-Year Plan for the Automotive Industry, the sales ban of carburetor vehicles, loosening of car price control and the replacement of the directory by announcements. All these had a positive role for healthy development of the automotive industry.
Three Major Types of Vehicles: In January-November 2001, China's output and sales of freight vehicles reached 732,600 units and 747,500 units respectively, an increase of 5.83% and 7.63% over the figures for the same period of 2000. The output and sales of passenger vehicles hit 764,000 units and 749,800 units respectively, up 18.96% and 18.69%. And the output and sales of cars stood at 643,000 units and 656,800 units respectively, up 17.14% and 22.90%. Passenger vehicles made the biggest contribution to production growth while cars led the sales growth.

Though freight vehicles registered the lowest growth both in output and sales, the situation was encouraging for heavy-duty vehicles. The output of heavy-duty vehicles surged 148.82% in November and 90% in January-November, as compared with the same period of 2000. While moderate growth was registered for medium-duty freight vehicles, a drop of some 6% was registered for light-duty freight vehicles and mini freight vehicles.
Among passenger vehicles, the fastest growth was recorded for the production of large passenger vehicles, which grew 46.34% in January-November, followed by medium-sized passenger vehicles, mini passenger vehicles and light passenger vehicles, which went up 36.50%, 21.36% and 11.59% respectively in January-November.

All the three types of vehicles had their own ¡°growth stars¡±. For freight vehicles, the China Heavy-Duty Vehicle Group posted an output of 6,871 units, up 140.92% over the same period of the previous year. For passenger vehicles, Zhengzhou Yutong Coach registered an output of 1,479 units, up 250.47%. For cars, Shanghai GM posted a growth of 99.65%. This amazing growth speed was attributed mainly to lot production of Sail.
Enterprises: In January-November 2001, the top ten motor vehicle manufacturers were still FAW Group, Shanghai Automotive Group and Dongfeng Motors. FAW posted an output of 387,000 units, up 20.09% year on year; Shanghai Automotive Group made 288,900 units, up 26.15%; and Dongfeng Motors manufactured 240,100 units, up 28.11%. Dongfeng posted the fastest increase among the Big Three.

In the aspect of sales growth, Shanghai Automotive Group took the first place. In January-November 2001, the automobile sales of Shanghai Automotive Group reached 290,700 units, up 36.91% over the figure for the same period of 2000. The growth in sales of Dongfeng and FAW Group was 25.44% and 12.73% respectively.
The Big Three continued to lead the growth of the automotive industry. In January-November 2001, the combined output of FAW Group, Shanghai Automotive Group and Dongfeng accounted for 40.35% of the nation's total. The sales revenue of the 15 key groups in the period reached 19.223 billion Yuan, up 20.31% over the same period of the previous year; their total profits amounted to 10.442 billion Yuan, up 30.69%; their industrial output value totaled 187.11 billion Yuan, up 21.08%.

While other key enterprises posted substantial increases, the output of the Tianjin Automotive Group incurred a sharp slide. In January-November, the company rolled off 55,482 motor vehicles, down 40.95% from the same period of the previous year. Qingling also incurred a fall of 30.77% in output. Meanwhile, the output of 26 makers was zero, and that of six others was less than 10 units each. Among the 15 key enterprises, the loss coverage hit 37.96%.
Competition in Car Brands: In the aspect of car sales, Shanghai Volkswagen took the first, with sales of 221,900 units, or 33.78% of the nation's total; FAW Volkswagen ranked second with sales of 114,200 units, and Tianjin Automotive took the third place with sales of 66,459 units. The fourth to sixth places were taken by Shanghai GM, Dongfeng Citroen and Guangzhou Honda, respectively.

In terms of market share by brand, Santana had the biggest market share of 22.71%, followed by Jetta (14.32%), Xiali (10.29%), Passat (9.34%), Fukang (Citroen) (7.42%) and Accord (7.23%).
In the aspect of car output, Shanghai Volkswagen continued to take lead, followed by FAW Volkswagen and Shanghai GM. Guangzhou Honda posted a 64.52% surge.

In 2001, car and mini-car were the leading products of the automotive industry, with the proportion in the total rising to 57.4%, from 55.3% in the previous year. In the new output and sales in January-November, car made the biggest contribution. Its output increased by 94,200 units, accounting for 36.75% of the total increase, and its sales rose by 122,400 units, accounting for 41.72% of the total increase.
Individual consumers were the main buyers of cars and mini-cars. Among the new car consumption in Beijing in recent years, private purchases accounted for 70-80%. Hot selling of economy cars is a vivid example. In January-November 2001, economy cars accounted for a 24.82% share in the whole car market. Individuals have begun to replace institutions as the main consumer of cars.

Manufacturers have begun to lure urbanities getting rich first. Several new models are launched every month, such as SUV, MPV and RV. These models are fashionable as they keep pace with the international trend.
Price: Following the government's deregulation on car price control in May 2001, the sales fell in June. After China signed the WTO agreements in September, the car market was sluggish in October, with the sales dropping more than 22% from the previous month. Consumers took a wait-and-see attitude, and accordingly the sales in peak period were only at the level of previous years. The price war finally broke off at the end of the year, kicked off by the launch of the Citroen New Freeman priced at 97,800 Yuan. In just half a month, the orders for the new model exceeded 4,000 units. Under pressures, the three major brands ¨C Santana, Jetta and Citroen all fell below 100,000 Yuan for the first time. Though the response of Santana and Jetta toward the price cut of the New Freeman was cautious, the sense of anxiety could be felt. Soon later, FAW Volkswagen began its "Green Slimming Program", lowering four old models including CI by a maximum of more than 10,000 Yuan.
http://www.friedlnet.com/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=1054

some FAW sales numbers

http://english.people.com.cn/200404/14/eng20040414_140365.shtml

Shanghai Automotive sales boom during Q1



Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp overtook First Automobile Works to become China's largest in terms of all-vehicle sales. It benefited from successful new models and popular mid-end cars

China's first quarter sales topped 1.27 million vehicles - a 29 percent year-on-year rise, according to statistics from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Chongqing-based Changan Auto shook the rankings, replacing Dongfeng as the third-largest vehicle seller in the period by selling 133,838 units against Dongfeng's 126,883 units.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, last year's biggest car seller, posted a 29 percent year-on-year rise in sales in the first quarter, selling more than 230,000 sedans, multiple-purpose vehicles and vans.

While, Changchun-based FAW reached 223,100-unit sales with 14.87 percent year-on-year rise in the period.

"Shanghai Automotive and Changan showed better performance in the period with new models and more market-catered vehicles, so they overtook," said Yale Zhang, Director of Emerging Markets Vehicle Forecasts under CSM Asia Corp.

"China's automotive industry will see frequent changes in the coming years as better performance in a certain period brings higher rank," said Zhang.

He pointed out that Shanghai Automotive rose because of the outstanding business from its two joint ventures with General Motors and Volkswagen.

Shanghai GM reported first quarter sales doubled from a year earlier to 68,000 units. The maker of the Buick series said recently that it raised manufacturing capacity to more than 21,000 units a month to meet the thirsty demand. People still need to wait up to two months to get an Excelle, one of the best sellers in the mid-end market. In China this model's first quarter sales were 22,376 units.

In the same period, Shanghai VW was positioned as the country's biggest car seller as a single automotive company by selling more than 100,000 units, covering the Santana series, Polo, Passat and Gol. The heavy-weight Santana 3000 Conqueror, with decade-long brand fame in China, was launched early last month and stunned the industry by selling more than 13,000 units last month, a record for a new car's debut month in China.

Shanghai Automotive launched its first multiple-purpose vehicle Istana from its Huizhong Automotive unit this year. It expects its sedan sales to rise to 740,000 units in this year, 143,000 units more than last year.