"Automotive to the countryside" has shown a strong growth in commercial vehicles
"In the first quarter of this year, China's new car sales surpassed that of the United States, ranking first in the world, and the contribution of the car-to-country policy was undeniable." At the Shanghai Auto Show, executives of the car industry all agreed that despite the operating rules of the car to the countryside, Not yet released, but the effect of the car to the countryside initially appeared.
According to the latest statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, domestic new car sales reached 2.678 million units in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of 3.88%. In the same period, new car sales in the United States were hit by a financial crisis of only 2.203 million units. China’s sales volume in the first quarter was higher than that in the United States. Nearly 480,000 vehicles, ranking first in the world. Data show that sales growth in the first quarter was better with light trucks and micro cards, and non-primary companies grew faster. Guotai Junan Securities' analysis shows that the growth of automobile production and sales in the first quarter of 2009 was structural, seasonal, regional, and recoverable. It was mainly the growth of crossover type passenger cars (micro-passengers) and 1.6-liter or lower-displacement economical cars. Caused by faster.
Minicars prop up growth
Passenger vehicles increased in the first quarter, but sales of commercial vehicles remained negative. In the planning and policies for the revitalization of the automobile industry, micro-cars have become the most profitable model because of the two-subsidy of halving the purchase tax and the subsidy to the countryside for the purchase of micro-miniatures. Micro-vehicles have thus become the core force for the growth of the auto market this year. Statistics show that under the stimulation of favorable policies, minibuses and mini trucks have accumulated sales growth rates of 35% and 28.7% in the first quarter of this year. Of the 110,000 passenger cars that were added last year, the growth was all micro-cars. SAIC-GM-Wuling and Changan Automobile all increased by more than 100,000 vehicles in the first quarter. Hafei and Dongfeng Xiaokang had monthly sales of about 10,000 units in the first quarter of last year, and monthly sales soared to 20,000 and 15,000 units this year; FAW Jiabao and Changhe Auto The monthly sales also exceeded the 5,000 mark. Industry insiders predict that in view of the rapid expansion of the mini-vehicle market, the micro-vehicle market will reach a market size of 1.9 million to 2 million vehicles this year, an increase of 50% from the scale of 1.3 million vehicles last year. “The first quarter was the traditional high season for automobile sales. The favorable policies brought about by the industrial policies stimulated sales. The automobile to the countryside policy is undoubtedly the most important factor in the increase in sales volume. It has revitalized consumer confidence.â€
Second quarter will continue to grow
Since the rules for the operation of cars in the countryside can be released in the second quarter, the second quarter may continue to grow. Wu Pengling, Deputy General Manager of SAIC-GM-Wuling, told reporters that policy subsidies are expected to be handed out to farmers in the end of April and early May. This will bring a new wave of sales. For Wuling, it sold 280,000 units in the first quarter (nearly 250,000 wholesalers). In the first half of this year, it expects sales to reach 500,000 units. This year, it is likely to challenge 800,000 vehicles (targeted at the beginning of the year is 720,000 units). Last year, sales were only 650,000 vehicles.
Zhang Baolin, general manager of Changan Automobile, also stated that in the first quarter, sales of Changan mini-vehicles exceeded 160,000, an increase of more than 40% year-on-year. In May and May, it still maintained rapid growth. It is expected that the sales growth of Changan mini vehicle in the first half of the year will be very good. Changan Micro-vehicles may hit sales targets of 600,000 to 700,000 units this year, and the target sales volume set at the beginning of the year is only 500,000 units; the new army of Chery Automobile in the micro-vehicle industry plans to launch four new models of micro-cars this year and strive for the year. The sales volume reached 50,000 vehicles, which was more than five times the sales of 9341 micro-vehicles last year; Dongfeng Xiaokang achieved sales of 100,000 vehicles last year, and this year it is expected that the growth rate will exceed 100%.
Commercial vehicle strong growth in March
Commercial vehicles are affected by the financial crisis. Continuation of the sharp decline in the second half of last year, the first quarter of this year still showed a negative growth of -6.13%. However, the latest statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show that the sales of commercial vehicles gradually recovered in March to 337,400 units, accounting for nearly half of the total sales of 683,100 units in the first quarter. Commercial vehicle companies such as Dongfeng, FAW, and JAC accounted for more than half of sales in the first quarter in March. Many commercial vehicle manufacturers hit a new high in sales in March.
In March, only the sales volume of Foton light trucks reached an astonishing 52,000 vehicles, which was nearly the sum of sales in the previous two months. Dongfeng light trucks increased by 131.75% month-on-month, the Jianghuai light trucks increased by 138.38%, the JMC light trucks increased by 87.43%, and Nanjing Iveco jumped 101.92% sequentially.
Analysts believe that the rapid recovery of the commercial vehicle market in March was related to the growth of light trucks and pickup trucks, which account for half of the commercial vehicle market. Light trucks and pickup trucks have caught up with the good time for the auto-to-country policy, thus achieving explosive growth. With the gradual implementation of the country’s 4 trillion yuan investment, the domestic commercial vehicle market will continue to pick up.
Call for policy extension for three years
The driving effect of the automobile-to-country policy on sales of related models has already appeared. However, according to the plan for the revitalization of the automobile industry, this policy will only be implemented by the end of this year.
Some senior management of enterprises expressed that the implementation time was too short. Zhang Baolin, general manager of Chang’an Automobile, emphasized: “The state plans to subsidize 5 billion yuan, and the income generated by stimulating output value growth is far more than 5 billion yuan. Cars to the countryside are a beneficial agricultural policy. For the benefit of the people and the country, the effect cannot be overstated," he said plainly. "Farmers who buy cars can get subsidies in May, and the policy will end by the end of the year, and it will take only a few months. I think the time is too short. This policy should be extended to 3 years."
Foton Motors Uptrend
Recently, Foton Motor released the first quarter production and sales data. In the first quarter of 2009, Foton Motor produced and sold 124,650 vehicles, completing nearly 30% of the annual plan, ranking first in China's commercial vehicle industry with a market share of about 20%, far higher than that of second- and third-tier auto companies. Among them, the contribution of high-end business has grown significantly. Taking Meng Paike as an example, it has increased by over 20% year-on-year and reached a record high, highlighting the speed with which Foton Motor has steadily expanded its passenger vehicle market. As the largest domestic commercial vehicle sales company, Foton has a share of more than 20% in the domestic market and plays a decisive role in the entire industry.
The list of the first batch of automotive products to the countryside was announced
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly announced on April 20th the list of the first manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles to the countryside and their product catalogs. A list of 73 automobile manufacturers and 177 motorcycle manufacturers and their products were listed. The two ministries and commissions stated that all products listed in the catalogue can enjoy financial subsidies as required by the policy.
Including Changhe, Hafei, Chang'an, SAIC-GM-Wuling and other six major micro-car companies and other mainstream products include them.
However, it is worth noting that since the specific operating rules have not yet been introduced, the "car to the countryside" has not really started yet. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology pointed out that at present, they are stepping up efforts to formulate the “Detailed Rules for the Operation of Auto and Motorcycles in the Countrysideâ€. After the issuance of this document, the automobile and motorcycle to the countryside will soon enter the stage of substantial operation.