In 2021, sales of sport utility vehicle (SUV) were the highest of the four types of passenger cars in China, reaching 10 million units. In the same year, 9.9 million Senda and nearly 1.1 million multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) were sold in China. Overall car sales in China had reached about 26.1 million vehicles in 2021.
Passenger car sales in China
China has been the largest market for passenger cars since 2008. In 2020, about 20 million passenger cars had been sold in China, more than in the United States, Germany and Japan combined. The People’s Republic is also the largest producers of passenger cars in the world. Over 21.4 million passenger cars had been produced in China in 2020. When compared to car markets in developed countries around the world, China’s domestic automobile market still possesses some potentials for growth. As of 2020, around 276 million vehicles had been registered in the United States, whereas China counted 24 million registered vehicles with a much higher population size.
Foreign car manufacturers in China
Both General Motors and Volkswagen are among the leading carmakers in China. More than half of all passenger cars sold in China were of foreign origin in 2020. China’s national carmakers enjoy a price advantage rather at the lower end of the market. Since 2020, the most popular passenger car model in China has been the SUVs. In order to win larger margins in the Chinese market, automakers such as Volkswagen have launched models solely designed for Chinese customers.
Number of passenger cars sold in China from 2008 to 2021, by model (in 1,000 units)*
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CAAM. (January 12, 2022). Number of passenger cars sold in China from 2008 to 2021, by model (in 1,000 units)* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/281169/china-passenger-car-sales-by-model/
CAAM. "Number of passenger cars sold in China from 2008 to 2021, by model (in 1,000 units)*." Chart. January 12, 2022. Statista. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/281169/china-passenger-car-sales-by-model/
CAAM. (2022). Number of passenger cars sold in China from 2008 to 2021, by model (in 1,000 units)*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/281169/china-passenger-car-sales-by-model/
CAAM. "Number of Passenger Cars Sold in China from 2008 to 2021, by Model (in 1,000 Units)*." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Jan 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/281169/china-passenger-car-sales-by-model/
CAAM, Number of passenger cars sold in China from 2008 to 2021, by model (in 1,000 units)* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/281169/china-passenger-car-sales-by-model/ (last visited May 28, 2022)