Auto Sales Climb 9% in China

Automakers delivered 1.46 million passenger vehicles to dealers in China last month compared with 1.34 million units in November 2011, the China Assn. of Automobile Manufacturers reports.

SUVs remain the fastest-growing segment with an 18% jump to 189,200 vehicles.

China's total vehicle sales, including trucks, vans and buses, rose 8% from a year earlier to 1.79 million units in November. Analysts credit the gain to stronger consumer confidence and heavy discounting.

Volume also was aided by a slow rebound in demand for Japanese cars. November sales of those models plunged 36% to 170,200 vehicles. But that marked the smallest year-over-year decline since China-Japan political tensions flared in September. Volume fell 30% to 79,500 units at Nissan, 22% 63,800 units at Toyota and 29% to 41,200 units at Honda.

Japanese automakers claimed an 11.7% share of China's car market last month compared with 7.6% in October and roughly 20% before the territorial dispute.

Group sales climbed at General Motors (+10% to 260, 000 vehicles) and Ford (+56% to 67,500 units). Luxury-car demand soared 62% to 31,100 units at BMW and 26% to 37,600 units at Audi, the brand's highest sales in China for any month on record. Volume dropped 7% to 16,900 units at Mercedes-Benz Cars.

In the first 11 months of 2012, China's wholesale passenger vehicle deliveries have grown 7% from a year earlier to 14 million units. Sales of all motor vehicles rose 4% to 17.49 million vehicles in the January-November period.

CAAM predicts full-year motor vehicle sales of more than 19 million units.