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General Motors China Sales Up 6.3 Percent To 287,581 Vehicles In July 2017

General Motors and its joint ventures recorded 287,581 new vehicle deliveries in China in July 2017, an increase of 6.3 percent from July 2016. The results represent GM China’s highest July sales performance ever.

The Buick, Cadillac and Baojun brands had record results for July, while Chevrolet posted growth of 24 percent on an annual basis. GM’s performance was strong across segments, with SUVs remaining the biggest riser – generating growth of 50 percent year over year. Retail sales increased 6.3 percent from a year earlier to 287,581 vehicles.

GM will launch more than 10 new and refreshed models in the second half of 2017, including the new 2018 Buick Regal sedan, Baojun 310 Wagon and Wuling Hong Guang S3 SUV.

Shanghai GM Sales – July 2017

July 2017 sales at Shanghai GM — GM’s primary joint venture in China responsible for Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac vehicle sales — were as follows.

Chevrolet China Sales – July 2017

Chevrolet sales increased 23.8 percent to 37,501 units:

  • Chevrolet Malibu sales more than doubled from a year earlier, accounting for one-fourth of the brand’s sales
  • Chevrolet Cavalier sales surpassed 10,000 units during its first July in China; the model was previously the Chinese-market Cruze, but was refreshed and then rebranded as the Cavalier when the global Cruze launched in China
  • The Equinox, Chevrolet’s best-selling global SUV, accounted for 3,500 deliveries in its third full month in the Chinese domestic market. The vehicle joined China’s highly competitive crossover segment in April as the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and is the first GM model in China to adopt the new GM nine-speed automatic transmission.
  • Chevrolet is expanding its powertrain portfolio with the upcoming introduction of a 1.0T engine

Buick China Sales – July 2017

Buick sales increased 4.4 percent to 93,347 units:

  • Buick GL8 MPV family increased 55 percent from a year earlier, as the new GL8 and GL8 Avenir remained highly popular
  • Buick Envision sales totaled 13,000 units, strengthening its foothold in its segment
  • Buick LaCrosse sales increased 77 percent to nearly 7,000 units
  • Buick Excelle GT sedan sales rose 19 percent to over 37,000 units

In March, Buick announced the Buick Velite 5 — its first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). Essentially a Buick-badged second-generation Chevrolet Volt, the vehicle has fuel consumption as low as 0.9 liter/100 kilometers. In the coming two years, the brand will launch plug-in hybrid and pure battery electric vehicles to expand its green car lineup. In addition, the brand has also announced the all-new 2018 Buick Regal. With 10 variants on offer, the new Regal will build on the success of the popular premium sedan nameplate.

Cadillac China Sales – July 2017

GM’s luxury brand continued to build its presence in the Chinese market, with Cadillac sales growing 37.1 percent to 12,006 units — the brand’s 17th consecutive month of double-digit sales growth in China. The sales performance makes China the largest market by volume for Cadillac in July, with the United States coming in second place. In fact, July was the fourth month in a row where Cadillac sold more cars in China than in the U.S.

SAIC-GM-Wuling Sales – July 2017

Sales results at GM’s other Chinese joint venture — SAIC-GM-Wuling — were as follows:

Baojun China Sales – July 2017

Baojun sales increased 61.2 percent to 71,433 units:

  • Baojun 510 sales totaled more than 27,000 units, cementing its leadership position in Baojun’s portfolio for the fourth consecutive month
  • Baojun 310 sales totaled 6,500 units in July; it was joined by the Baojun 310 wagon – which sold over 6,100 units in its first month on the market
  • The Baojun E100 was launched in Liuzhou, Guangxi, in late July, giving the brand its first fully electric vehicle

Wuling China Sales – July 2017

Wuling sales decreased 25 percent to 73,294 units:

  • Wuling Hong Guang, the most popular Wuling nameplate in China, saw deliveries of over 30,000 units
  • Later this year, Wuling will introduce its first SUV – the Hong Guang S3 – to take advantage of one of China’s fastest-growing vehicle segments

Sales Summary - July 2017 - General Motors - China

BrandJuly 2017 / July 2016July 2017July 2016YTD 2016 / YTD 2015YTD 2017YTD 2016
Total+6.3%287,581270,529-1.3%2,053,4092,081,005
Buick+4.4%93,34789,404-6%618,311657,871
Chevrolet+23.8%37,50130,287-5.5%242,145256,282
Cadillac+37.1%12,0068,757+69.2%92,36354,575
Wuling-25%73,29497,728-18.3%637,759780,239
Baojun+61.2%71,43344,320+39.5%462,831331,716
Other*033*0322

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to GM China July 2016 sales, except as noted
  • Starting with April 2015 sales results, GM began reporting retail sales rather than wholesales in China. All numbers above represent retail sales.

Further Reading & Sales Reporting

GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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Comments

  1. Chinese sales beat the US by over 60,000 units for the month of July , thats huge . It’s good for GM to keep pushing themselves into that market as signs indicate that the Chinese middle-class is on the rise . It also keeps Buick from disappearing as a division of GM .
    Even though SUV sales are on the rise in that country Buick still sold 7000 LaCrosses up 77% ! While here they are rusting on dealers lots . What is the problem with them not selling here ?
    It’s not a car I would buy ; and it is a decent looking car , remember all the accolades it got at the auto shows yet flopped when it arrived on the showroom floor . Must be a big difference in taste between the two countries .

    Reply
    1. The volume is high, but the ATPs are extremely low. Over half of the sales volume is Baojun and Wuling commercial LCVs/light commercial vehicles, which have ATPs of $15,000 USD (converted). By comparison, the U.S. buys $40,000+ pickup trucks.

      The LaCrosse is a fine sedan in a sedan-down market. The Chinese market is undergoing a crossover boom, but it’s not as significant as in the U.S.

      Reply
      1. Do you think Buick sales in China have flattened out because Cadillac is the new ‘trade-up’ car?

        I have no real data, but I’ve notice Buick dipping as Cadillac rises.

        Just an observation …

        Reply
        1. No, I don’t think that Cadillac is in any way cannibalizing Buick sales in China. The two brands exist at disparate ends of the automotive sphere: Buick is (priced) like a mainstream brand in China… while Cadillac is (roughly) twice as expensive.

          Reply
  2. I think there is perceived value with SUV’s over cars being they have extra cargo space. With price being equal most people would choose the vehicle with the most space than drive something they would be cramped in. And thanks to marketing, car makers have no reason or strategy enticing buyers to purchase cars. Their edge used to be efficiency but that’s no longer a priority with low gas prices.

    Reply
  3. I think they would make utility vehicles lightweight and fuel efficient the the future because people perfure utility over a low and cramped sedan.

    Reply
    1. That’s funny. Sedans are all of a sudden cramped according to you, after 100+ years of sedans being the most popular vehicle type.

      Stop exaggerating rye. Listen before speaking. You’re still young. Learn. Observe. Digest. Then provide your own opinion.

      Reply
      1. They are cramp when compare to the space most SUV offer. I mean there are lots spacious sedan, like the Impala. But that isn’t the problem; to the average consumer’s mind SUV = big and roomy and sedan = small and cramp.

        Reply
        1. That’s not the reason for the newfound popularity of crossovers. The biggest reason is the increased ride height. People feel safer and more secure with that kind of driving position.

          Another reason is the increase in utility/cargo space. Americans have finally realized that hatchbacks are better than sedans from that standpoint… but instead of embracing hatchbacks, they’re going straight for SUVs/CUVs.

          Reply

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