Vehicle production in China totaled 2,067,535 units in April, up 8.9% over year-ago. This was the third month in 2014 that total builds passed the 2 million mark.
Car and light trucks both posted increases in the month, up 5.2% and 15.2%, respectively. Light-truck output reached 885,483 units, bolstered by strong SUV sales, while total car builds exceeded 1 million units for the seventh time in the past eight months.
Medium/heavy truck assemblies remained relatively flat in April, down just 0.4% to 112,727 units. Buses, however, tumbled 4.9% with 12,069 units produced.
Production of the FAW-Mazda Atenza began in April with 1,240 units built in the month. The sporty sedan will compete with models like the Toyota Camry and Ford Mondeo and will be sold at a starting price of RMB 179,800 ($28,830). It will be available with either a 2.0L or 2.5L 4-cyl. engine, mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.
SAIC-GM Wuling’s Hongguang van was the most produced model in April with 67,872 units built. The Hongguang accounted for 3.3% of total production in the country, 0.8 share points above Shanghai GM’s Buick Excelle, the month’s second-place finisher.
SAIC-GM Wuling also held the top spot among manufacturers in April. With an output of 162,945, it outpaced runner-up FAW-VW by about 6,000 units. Shanghai GM placed third with 145,881 vehicles built.
Through April, China’s manufacturers produced 7,953,020 vehicles, about 9.0%, or 700,000 units more than the first four months of 2013.
