China Production Soars to Record in 2012

China produced a record 19,271,808 vehicles in 2012, up 4.6% from the prior year, holding onto its title of the world’s largest auto maker for the fourth consecutive year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

December output rose 5.5% to 1,784,897.

The 2012 total included 18,222,936 light vehicles, accounting for 94.6% of the country’s output. Both cars and light trucks posted record production for the year. Buses also did well in 2012, with output rising 2.9% above year-ago to 169,093. Medium/heavy trucks was the only sector to show a decline, falling 21.3% from year-ago.

Ford officially started production of the Kuga cross/utility vehicle in December, building 272 units of the first Chinese-made Ford CUV. The vehicle is available in six variations and will compete with models such as the Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan.

The VW Jetta snagged the top spot among best-selling models several times in the year, but wasn’t able to boot SAIC-GM-Wuling’s Zhiguang from the leading position in 2012.. The popular van has occupied the top position since its release in 2007, accounting for 2.7% of China’s 2012 builds.

SAIC-GM-Wuling was the top manufacturer in China in 2012, producing 1,500,168 vehicles, or 7.8% of China’s output. Shanghai GM paced second with 1,343,445 (7.0%) and FAW Volkswagen was third with 1,342,884 (7.0%).

China’s output has to grow 3.8% in 2013 in order to top the 20 million-unit mark.

[email protected]