http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jnLvATfENcYIMMfdPa2_raXimdNQD97E8G8O0

It's incredible for any nation to surpass the US in car sales. (It hasn't been done since Henry introduced the Model T.)

Never mind a third world country at the beginning of its growth cycle!

Simply amazing.

Quote: Reports: China auto sales surpass US for 3rd month By ELAINE KURTENBACH 15 hours ago SHANGHAI (AP) Preliminary figures show auto sales in China reached about 1.03 million in March, exceeding U.S. sales for the third month in a row, state media reports said Wednesday. Data from 14 major auto makers, accounting for roughly 90 percent of total sales, totaled 1.026 million, the Shanghai Securities News and other state-run newspapers said, citing Chen Bin, head of the Department of Industry at China's main economic planning agency. Full industry data due to be released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers in coming days could push March auto sales in China, the world's second-largest auto market, to a monthly record, the reports said. China's industrywide auto sales in March 2008 totaled 1.06 million, it said. Americans bought 857,735 new vehicles in March, down 37 percent from the 1.36 million sold in the same month a year earlier, according to Autodata Corp.

-------------------------------------------------

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123918949162500695.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Quote: Mercedes, GM Say Sales in China Jumped in March By DENIS MCMAHON and PATRICIA JIAYI HO SHANGHAI -- Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz and General Motors Corp. said their sales in China rose to a monthly record in March, despite a global slowdown in auto demand. March was Mercedes-Benz's "best ever" month in China, with sales rising 50% from the same period in 2008, said Klaus Maier, Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd.'s president and chief executive. "I think it shows confidence in China is back," Mr. Maier said at a briefing Wednesday on the launch of Daimler's Smart minicar in China. In China and Hong Kong, 11,800 Mercedes-Benz vehicles were sold, which was up 23% from the 9,626 units sold in March last year. Mercedes-Benz sold 98,500 cars world-wide in March, down 18% from a year earlier. In the quarter, sales dropped 25% from the first quarter of 2008, to 216,000 cars. Separately, GM said its China sales in March rose 25% from a year earlier to a record 137,004 vehicles. GM's brisk sales in China also run counter to the global trend. March sales at GM's commercial vehicle joint venture, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., rose 38% from a year earlier to 90,784 units, a monthly record. GM attributed the growth to demand for its Buick lineup, Sunshine and Wuling Rongguang minivans, and Spark mini-car.

-------------------------------------------------

These are all false of course....Chinese have zero consumption power and its growth has ended, so claimed by some armchair voodooo economists of WAFF

-------------------------------------------------

As I said, even the world is in economy trouble, China (both government and people) has a lot of money to deal with the trouble. Chinese gov is running at very low deficit and people saved a lot of money in banks. As long as gov can make people to feel secure economically, people will spend money. Apparently gov realized it:
1. after free compulsary eduction in rural areas from 3 year ago, urban residents are enjoying the same policy.
2. Reconstructing public health system. That is a big relief for Chinese people.

very good, the decline in german exports already starts getting smaller.



also car sleas in germany jumped by 40% in march compared to previous year and reached 404000 sold cars in march.






Napoleon auf St. Helena: "Hätte der Himmel gewollt, dass ich als deutscher Fürst geboren wäre und hätten Sie mich einmal zu Ihrem Kaiser gewählt und ausgerufen so scheint mir noch Heute, dass Sie nie von mir abgefallen wären und ich Heute nicht hier sitzen müsste."

On a related note, the fact that consumption held steady means that unlike the US, Asian and European countries have savings stocked away that they can use during tough economic times. For US, they have to rely on multiple, massive stimulus packages from the government, other countries can rely less on deficit spending.


------------------------------------
#1 way to ascertain that you've lost an argument: Resorting to personal attacks.

Keep on buying those Buicks! Landos needs his job.

Ive actually read that Buick was placed first in a recent quality survey. Now that is impressive! Keep up the good work!

---------------------------------
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

Albert Einstein

We're doing the best we can. Have a MASSIVE layoff in the USA to be announced on April 20/21. Hope I'm retained, there is still a lot of work to do turning the company around.

Buick needs some designers, even though it may be of exellent quality their problem is that every new KIA has a better design.











Napoleon auf St. Helena: "Hätte der Himmel gewollt, dass ich als deutscher Fürst geboren wäre und hätten Sie mich einmal zu Ihrem Kaiser gewählt und ausgerufen so scheint mir noch Heute, dass Sie nie von mir abgefallen wären und ich Heute nicht hier sitzen müsste."

Chinese Buick is VERY different than the American Buick.







This one ok too

gm should have allowed opel to sell their cars arround the world

it has been a major mistake to restrict them on eu market and doesnt make any sense to me






Napoleon auf St. Helena: "Hätte der Himmel gewollt, dass ich als deutscher Fürst geboren wäre und hätten Sie mich einmal zu Ihrem Kaiser gewählt und ausgerufen so scheint mir noch Heute, dass Sie nie von mir abgefallen wären und ich Heute nicht hier sitzen müsste."

Go Buick, my family has a new Park Avenue flagship model in China, man I love those massage seats.


Whoever said winning isn't everything must be a loser...

Chinese sales are keeping GM afloat right now. We love our Chinese affiliates!

Buick styling will never appeal to Europeans, just like European styling will never appeal to the majority of Americans. Mercedes has a luxury image, but it's styling really isn't condusive to the way we drive in America. 50% of Mercedes I see driving in my upscale neighborhood are owned by recent immigrants.

Americans want bigger seats, smoother rides. More a luxury yacht than a racing boat. The idea of driving across America in a Mercedes is too painful! Maybe the roads are better in Germany or the travelling is simply a lot shorter. You'd get your kidneys all shaken up driving across Nebraska in a Mercedes.

i think porsche has also picked up the idea of driving across america

this is the new posche PANAMERA LOL




















Napoleon auf St. Helena: "Hätte der Himmel gewollt, dass ich als deutscher Fürst geboren wäre und hätten Sie mich einmal zu Ihrem Kaiser gewählt und ausgerufen so scheint mir noch Heute, dass Sie nie von mir abgefallen wären und ich Heute nicht hier sitzen müsste."

wtf have porshe done , that car looks hideouse as a hatche back

how is it surprising when you have over a billion people? the small percentage of people that can afford it are probably the same or greater in number as those in the US that can afford cars.

how is it surprising when you have over a billion people? the small percentage of people that can afford it are probably the same or greater in number as those in the US that can afford cars.

It is surprising because we don't see India with a larger auto market than the US or the Philippines with a larger market than Spain.

For China, a third world market to sit atop the world's market at this point in her development is amazing as sh!t. LOL

New economies experiencing high growth don't usually have massive markets like mature economies. They grow into massive markets later on. With China, it has a massive market now while it is still growing.

Simply amazing.

-------------------------------------------------

Well it's not surprising at all, it was gonna happen eventually. But it is significant for two reasons:

1) first time in history since ford's model T that another country might sell more cars than USA

2) even late in 2008, china did not expect to pass US in auto sales until around 2015

Of course US auto sales fell an ungodly amount (40%?), so US might still return to the top in 2010.


------------------------------------
#1 way to ascertain that you've lost an argument: Resorting to personal attacks.

"These are all false of course....Chinese have zero consumption power and its growth has ended, so claimed by some armchair voodooo economists of WAFF"

China doesn't have as strong of a consumer class as you would like to tink. Chinese citizens actually rank fairly low in terms of consumption when compared to other countries in North America and Europe, for example. Because the government does not provide much social welfare, many Chinese tend to save rather than consume. Hence, that's why the recent stimulus package included many social reforms, serving as an incentive for people to save less, and consume more.

Looking at a breakdown of China's GDP, much of it was built on their exports, and now that exports are slumping, until the world recovers and is able to drive up Chinese exports again, China's got to focus on the other areas of GDP, such as domestic consumption.

people, can you please read econ 101 first before you pumping crap out of your arsehole???? how many of you morons do we have to educate? GDP is made up of NET export (not export), consumption, investment, etc..... Everyone knows that export has dropped dramatically, but imports have also dropped more.....Consumption is relatively flat with strong signs of picking up evidenced by robust housing and automobile purchase..... Investment is up 30% due to government stimulus...


Please people, China is still a developing country and is by no means perfect....Please keep that in mind when you criticise....

Oh, please learn your phucking econ 101.

-------------------------------------------------

Chinese car sales are this strong EVEN though 45% of its potential buyers are putting off purchases until later. LOL

Imagine when all the economic cylinders are running?!

Simply amazing!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i-05PXs0LQjBRK7VDNw92-xorH1A

Quote: SHANGHAI (AFP) Troubled US auto giants will square off against Chinese newcomers in Shanghai this week as they try to pull ahead in what has suddenly become the world's number one car market. Despite seeking government life support at home, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corp had banner months in China, which has overtaken the United States to be the world's largest auto market for three months running. But Chinese manufacturers such as Geely and Chery also had strong months and, sensing blood in the water, they see a chance to break out as global names. "The economic slowdown offers real opportunities for Chinese domestic car makers," said Klaus Paur, automotive director for research firm TNS China, ahead of Monday's start of the Shanghai international auto show. Government incentives, such as tax rebates on smaller engine cars, helped drive China's auto sales to a monthly record of 1.08 million units in March. Vehicle sales in the first quarter rose almost six percent from a year earlier to 2.64 million units, according to official figures. Despite strong first quarter sales, 45 percent of prospective car buyers in China postponed purchases due to concerns over the economy, and a quarter have cut their budget, according to a TNS survey of more 1,000 mainland consumers.

-------------------------------------------------

It's very good news from my perspective. GM is really struggling outside of China.