China sees sluggish commercial vehicle market

Feb. 25, 2009 (China Knowledge) - The output and sales of China's commercial vehicles continue to drop in January from last December, according to statistics released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), sources reported.

Information from CAAM showed that Chinese commercial vehicle makers produced 132,000 units in total last month, representing a month-on-month drop of 4.41% and a year-on-year drop of 39.1%, and the sales tumbled 20.21% month on month and 36.35% year on year to 125,300 units.

Semi-trailer output and sales saw the biggest decline, with outputs shrinking to 1,204 units, down 61.78% month on month and 91.97% year on year, and sales losing 57.89% month on month and 86.72% year on year to 1,904 units, said CAAM.

The country produced 98,600 trucks last month, up 10.13% month on month but down 24.59% year on year. The truck sales declined 11.15% month on month and 86.72% year on year to 90,300 units.

The output and sales of buses in January tumbled 35.3% and 28.5% year on year to 13,500 units and 16,000 units respectively.