Output Surges 9.8% in China Through First Half

Vehicle production in China totaled 11.8 million units through the first half of 2014, up 9.8% from like-2013, but still a noticeably slower growth pace than the 12.8% jump witnessed in first-half 2013.

Total car builds rose 6.0% to 6.2 million units through June. Light and medium/heavy trucks climbed as well in the first six months, up 16.0% and 3.5%, respectively. Bus was the only sector to post a decline, down 11.6% to just 68,577 units.

SUVs continued to thrive in the first half of the year, growing 30.4% to 1.2 million units, accounting for 10.6% of China’s total builds. This was up 1.7 percentage points from year-ago. CUV production also was on the rise in the first half with production up 52.6% from like-2013 to 591,127 units.

Shanghai VW claimed the top spot among manufacturers in the first six months with a 7.9% share of production. With 932,272 builds, Shanghai VW outpaced runner-up SAIC-GM Wuling by about 13,000 units. FAW-VW placed third with 879,754 vehicles built.

Although not able to hold the title of top manufacturer, SAIC-GM Wuling’s Hongguang van ranked first among models in the first six months with 395,764 vehicles built. This was up 80.5% from year-ago. Shanghai GM’s Buick Excelle placed second with 278,456 units.

At the current growth rate, China vehicle production would top 24 million by year-end.

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