China's light-vehicle sales drop 6.6% as market slump deepens
China's light vehicle sales declined for the third consecutive month in July due to the weakening domestic economy, dipping 6.6 percent year on year to 1.27 million units.
Only SUVs maintained sales growth last month. Sales of sedans, MPVs and microvans all declined compared with the same month last year, said the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
The association has yet to disclose detailed sales information for each segment of the domestic light vehicle market.
The downturn has been widespread. Ford Motor Co.'s deliveries fell 6 percent last month, while General Motors reported a 4 percent downturn.
Chinese automakers, which had been gaining market share this year, also suffered soft demand. Great Wall Motor Co., China's biggest SUV maker, said sales declined 1.7 percent in July, and Nissan deliveries fell 14 percent.
Toyota and Honda bucked the trend, with July sales up 24 percent and 50 percent respectively. Even though those two companies did well, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association issued a warning this month that it expected a "downward spiral" in demand.
Thanks to stronger demand early this year, China's light vehicle sales for the first seven months is up 3.4 percent from a year earlier to 11.36 million units.
The association has yet to disclose detailed sales information for each segment of the domestic light vehicle market.
The downturn has been widespread. Ford Motor Co.'s deliveries fell 6 percent last month, while General Motors reported a 4 percent downturn.
Chinese automakers, which had been gaining market share this year, also suffered soft demand. Great Wall Motor Co., China's biggest SUV maker, said sales declined 1.7 percent in July, and Nissan deliveries fell 14 percent.
Toyota and Honda bucked the trend, with July sales up 24 percent and 50 percent respectively. Even though those two companies did well, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association issued a warning this month that it expected a "downward spiral" in demand.
Thanks to stronger demand early this year, China's light vehicle sales for the first seven months is up 3.4 percent from a year earlier to 11.36 million units.
