China overtakes US as world’s largest car market

By Matt Brogan | April 16th, 2010

China overtook the United States as the world’s largest car market in 2009, selling close to 13.6 million vehicles against the US’s 10.4 million.

In fact, China and India were the only two countries in the world to see an overall increase in vehicle sales last year.

According to Autodata Corporation, China’s overall car sales increased by 48 per cent in 2009, and in February this year, were up 55 per cent compared to the same time last year. By comparison, the US saw a 13 per cent increase for the same period.

The Chinese car market wasn’t hit nearly as hard by the Global Financial Crisis compared to Europe or the US, and thanks in part to the Chinese government’s 4 trillion yuan ($AUD627.5 billion) stimulus package, the new car market continues to grow in 2010.

Chinese buyers also took a greater interest in luxury cars than other markets with high-end vehicle sales up 37 per cent in 2009. The figures defying the global trend of a 25-30 per cent decline in the overall number of luxury cars sold last year.

The BMW Group, which includes BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, saw an overall global sales fall of 10 per cent last year, but the group says Chinese sales bucked the trend, up by 37 per cent on the year prior.

This past February, BMW sales into China increased by 96.7 per cent over the same month in 2009. Mercedes-Benz and Audi reported a similar story. February 2010 figures for the pair up 160 per cent and 61.7 per cent respectively compared to the same month last year.

Gary

Wow, great photo

at the moment consumers in china need to pay extra to get their new cars delivered on time
JEKYL & HYDE

as china basically ownes the u.s.a. now,its good to see that they are interested in style,and not size,like the u.s.a.Hope that petrol prices don’t spike again…
Frenchie

I was in Shanghai 5 years ago and have been told how many new cars are on the road there! Lots of european models.
http://www.caradvice.com.au Mick

God help the planet if every person in the worlds largest populated nation has an engine to start every morning. We’ve reached an era were more people are getting out of cars and onto pushbikes,but China,and India for that matter,are doing the opposite. I’m not sure if its something to be pleased about. Chinese cities were smelly stinkholes when everyone were still cycling. Now if every chinese gets into a car………

ChineseDriver

And when chinese people were cycling, we ppl in western countries were starting the cars every morning.
V8

Mick have you ever been to a Chinese city?? You red neck feral. You probably have not even been outside Oz! LOL

Gary

Mick, the task is shared by big manufacturers and the governments, especially from the countries dominating the technology and resources.
V8

Nice number plates!! Lots of nines and eights, WOW! Must Be very expensive!
http://www.caradvice.com.au Mick

V8,I’ve been to China and Hong Kong,plus Macau. I love their women and their food. When I say their cities are polluted,smelly stinkholes,I’m talking from experience. Having an opinion on something like this dosn’t make me a redneck. Unlike in China,here in Australia we can say what we think.

Dave

China is polluted because it is making affordable stuff for people living in the developed world to enjoy. You are driving a car and take it for granted. You complain loudly when Chinese people start driving cars and enjoying a new lifestyle. You are probably not a redneck. But you are clearly selfish and arrogant. According to your logic, to protect environment, people living in developing countries should stop driving cars. What makes you think you are superior to others? Don’t forget you are living in Australia, a country which promotes equality. If you want to protect environment, how about you give up driving and start walking or riding bikes? Are you willing to do that?!

Ozzie

It’s simple logic that some countries deserve more than others. We developed cars first and thus we are entitled to enjoy all its benefits, whenever we want, as much as we want. It’s just too bad the others (China) were just sitting on their backsides, not contributing anything to society (apart from pollution) only to attempt to reap the benefits. Well, that’s just wrong.

GoHyundai

REGARDING YOUR “(China) were just sitting on their backsides, not contributing anything to society (apart from pollution) only to attempt to reap the benefits.”

wow…you need a shot (with the chinese invention: gunpowder)
Al Juraj

To say Australia developed cars – well, that’s just wrong. We only borrow ideas from America.

To say we’re entitled to enjoy cars as much as we want – well, that’s just wrong. Why are there speed limits then?

China not contributing to society – well, that’s just wrong. For starters, just about everything at the toy store is made there.

The creation of Ozzie – well, that’s just wrong. There’s no prize for guessing why.

Al Juraj

Yes Mick, we can say what we think, but the problem is you don’t think before you say something.

Talk about stinkholes, hah! Unlike poor countries, we have access to water, soap, deodorant, anything to keep ourselves clean and hygienic. But how come so many people here still have BO?

As for pollutants, how do you explain gas-guzzling Commodores, the continuous production of big V8s, and endless burnouts?

You should only make such comments about a country if you’re a humanitarian worker trying to help in people’s lives. If you’re not prepared to do anything to make China better, then it’s best to keep things to yourself.

Ozzie

Mick is certainly right. How dare people from that 3rd world hole destroy our beautiful planet (carefully nurtured by generations from great western civilizations mind you) by their reckless and uncalled for modernization. They survived all this time farming rice, and that is the only job they are supposed to be doing. We need to prevent motor vehicle sales to that country asap, if only to save the planet. Perhaps we should replace them by exporting bicycles there, if they don’t like it, then let them walk!

Dave

Another English Redneck who is playing ego. Lol.
GoHyundai

anzac day is coming up,
ViolatedUrchin

Troll!!!!

If you hate China that much, I reckon you should just throw your mobile phone, TV, and the computer you’re typing with right now. Without cheap manufacturing from China to meet demands from other first world country, you wouldn’t have all these cheap electronics and goods to use in the first place!

http://www.caradvice.com.au Keith Davis

In every city around the world,car use is out of control. I think Karl Benz and Henry Ford only meant for them to be used for long distances. Its now every man for himself on most roads now. In many western countries,theres 4 people in one home,and each of them have a car,and they use them to drive one block! As for China making everything I enjoy, thats because the labour is cheap,and that attracts the multinationals who want all their goods produced for next to nothing. The workers have no rights.If only China had unions. What would you like me to do about all this? Show me Australian made products and I’ll buy them.

Dave

If the Chinese work for nothing, then how can China become the world’s second biggest economy? How can China have the largest foreign reserve in the world? How can the average income of Chinese household increase ten folds in 5 years?

Most people here are living in a tight budget, also have to cope with rising food costs and power bills. So it is natural for consumers to buy something which is value for money. Patriotism is important, but you have to wonder how much average people will think about it when buying products.
GoHyundai

aussieBum

buy aussieBum, on every package there’s a big round sticker that says “THIS ITEM IS NOT MADE IN CHINA PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN” i just think of the chinese’ reactions when/if they buy aussieBum products…lol

Fred

As the Chinese are getting richer, they certainly have the right and capability to do what they want to do, such as driving cars. According to a previous CA report, the Chinese are buying more and more small, fuel-efficient cars, which is encouraged by the government. At least they have environment protection in mind when pursuing a better life.
http://www.caradvice.com.au Mick

GoHyundai,I actually do a lot of printing for AussieBum-and I love having them as customers. Whenever their rolls arrive on the truck to be processed, I just know I’m in for an enjoyable,cruisey day.
The Realist

Hilarious.

The red neck morons on this thread don’t realise all we are is China’s quarry.

Australia is nothing without minerals. And soon LNG. Take these exports away and we would be on the slippery slope to catastrophe.

Ozzie

You have it the other way around. You do know, we can send them back into poverty (where they belong) just by cutting off our exports to them, they won’t exist without us.

Evan

few weeks ago i had this discussion with a japanese friend, i asked him what if china stop exporting anything to japan and USA, what will happen?

as an economic professional he replied, sure japan and USA economic will mess up very very soon after that, but, it is the chinese who suffers the first..

the point is, japan, USA, and china, are holding extremely large number of capitals, and consumers. because china has more population, thus, with all those people waiting for food and no one buying their product, china will not last in that economic war. although china will drag down the other two, but it will not be worth it.

sadly, compare to australia. it’s a very different story. with a market like australia, with its consuming power today, as in the term of economic power, australia is a joke when put on the stage of the world. no offense guys.

but australia still remains as one of the most developed countries on the planet. that’s because you have less population, just by selling minerals, australians can enjoy a better life.

Australian government tho, realize that keep doing this is dangers, because minerals will run out. that is why australia is a immigrant country. it needs more people, in the field of IT for technology, need more capitalists for more capital. etc etc..

btw, i am a chinese student and i love australia. altho it is not so powerful like US EURO CHINA OR RUSSIA. personally i think australians are doing great, over all hard working and friendly people. i think australia is a peaceful country, it’s not developing fast like china, it’s not the police of the world like US, but it doesn’t have to be. australians are proud of their country because they can enjoy their life here.

o and BTW again. i don’t really want to comment on the racist comments. i’m just saying what i think. just…don’t pretend australia is economically stronger than China. that is the one thing australia can not win. but hey, at least you got the freedom of speech, that is much much more important.

PEACE.

Evan

just a little facts to support myself..

new car sales in China 2010 march..

1730000..

for australia 2010 march..

94744…

according to VFACTS..

now that..shows consuming power difference..

IAMBACK

What a fool you are, take a trip to China and open your eyes, go on a 451kmh MagLev train, see the technology, buildings, projects etc etc and get back to us, AUS is stuffed, China is booming and THE world SuperPower today.

WE NEED THEM, WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT THEM

edward

so stupid. u made the cars for chinese? i even dont know what modern manufacturing australia has. have a look at in chinese street. most models are japanese chinese european companies. what are these oz doing? sleeping all the year and waiting for the products from overseas.
reporter

someone should report this website, for allowing racist comments.
IAMBACK

Welcome to last years news……

I wonder when FIAT Group will take China seriously?

The sold ~450 units in China in 2009, VW did 1.4 million……