China Vehicle Production Up 2.2% in August

Vehicle production in China totaled 1,714,376 units in August, up 2.2% over like-2013. This was the lowest year-over-year increase reported since February 2013, when output plummeted 16.2%.

Total car builds remained relatively flat in the month, up just 0.4% from year-ago to 946,824 units, while light truck output surged 6.7% to 694,440 amid an ongoing SUV boom in the country. Medium/heavy duty trucks continued to plunge in August, falling 15.2% to the lowest volume in 24 months, while bus production rose slightly, up 1.8%, from like-2013.

Production of the all-new Kia K4 began in August with 3,566 units built. The compact sedan is being assembled by the Dongfeng-Yueda-Kia joint venture, and will be manufactured and marketed exclusively in China. It will sell starting at RMB128,800 ($20,982).

With production totaling 52,376 units, SAIC GM-Wuling’s Hongguang claimed the top spot among models in August. The multi purpose vehicle held a 3.1% share of the market in the month, followed by FAW Volkswagen’s Jetta (2.7%) and Shanghai GM’s Buick Excelle (2.6%).

FAW Volkswagen was the leading manufacturer in August, following a brief stint in second place last month. The manufacturer produced 159,955 vehicles, outpacing Shanghai GM, the month’s runner-up, by about 15,000 units. Shanghai Volkswagen placed third with 130,003 vehicles built.

Through August, output in China totaled 15,218,878, about 8.6%, or 800,000 units, more than the first eight months of 2013.

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