General Motors and its joint ventures reported 382,723 new vehicle deliveries for October 2017 in China, a 10.7 percent increase from October 2016. The results represent a new October sales record for GM China.
The Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and Baojun brands posted sales gains, while Wuling sales decreased. In fact, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and Baojun posted all-time sales records for October. SUVs remained the fastest-growing segment for GM, with sales surging 64 percent year over year.
GM is launching more than 10 new and refreshed models in the second half of 2017, including the new Buick Regal, Baojun 310 Wagon and Wuling Hong Guang S3 SUV.
In the first ten months of 2017, GM and its joint ventures delivered a record 3,130,862 units in China, an increase of 2.2 percent.
Shanghai GM Sales – October 2017
October 2017 sales results at Shanghai GM — GM’s primary joint venture in China responsible for Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac vehicle sales — were as follows.
Chevrolet China Sales – October 2017
Chevrolet sales increased 17 percent to 61,065 units, setting a new October sales record:
- Chevrolet Malibu sales increased 59 percent to over 14,000 units
- Chevrolet Cavalier sales increased 90 percent to 22,000 units; the model was previously the Chinese-market Cruze, but was refreshed and then rebranded as the Cavalier when the global, second-generation Cruze launched in China and in other markets
- Chevrolet Equinox sales continued to grow, totaling nearly 6,500 units in its sixth 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 utilize the new GM 9-speed automatic transmission.
Buick China Sales – October 2017
Buick sales increased 2.1 percent to 107,297 units, setting a new October sales record:
- Buick GL8 sales increased 84 percent to over 12,300 units
- Buick Envision sales exceeded 19,000 units
- Buick LaCrosse sales increased 32 percent to nearly 11,000 units
- Buick strengthened its portfolio in October with the launch of the new Buick GL6 MPV and Buick Excelle GX wagon as well as the upgraded 2018 Excelle GT, 2018 Buick Verano and 2018 Verano GS
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 – October 2017
GM’s Cadillac luxury brand continued to build its presence in the Chinese market, increasing sales 36.1 percent to 17,018 units, the brand’s 20th consecutive month of double-digit sales growth in China. The results represented a new October record for the brand. Cadillac sales highlights included:
- Cadillac XT5 sales increased 40 percent to 6,615 units; Cadillac introduced the XT5 Hybrid in late August, expanding the XT5 lineup
- Cadillac ATS-L sales increased 37 percent to over 5,600 units, its 16th consecutive month of double-digit growth
- Cadillac CT6 sales increased 170 percent to nearly 1,200 units
- Cadillac XTS sales increased 19 percent; the refreshed 2018 Cadillac XTS will launch in November
Cadillac’s sales performance in China led the brand’s U.S. sales volume by 3,087 units during the month. See more about Cadillac sales for October 2017.
SAIC-GM-Wuling Sales – October 2017
October 2017 sales results at GM’s other Chinese joint venture — SAIC-GM-Wuling — were as follows:
Baojun China Sales – October 2017
Baojun sales increased 56 percent to 104,755 units, setting a new October sales record:
- Baojun 510 sales exceeded 45,000 units, recording the seventh consecutive month as the brand’s most popular model
- Baojun 310 wagon sales totaled nearly 14,000 units in its fourth full month on the market
- Baojun E100 sales surpassed 1,700 units in its launch market in Liuzhou, Guangxi; the E100 is Baojun’s first fully electric vehicle
Wuling China Sales – October 2017
Wuling sales decreased 14.9 percent to 92,588 units:
- Wuling Hong Guang sales surpassed 42,000 units
- Wuling Rong Guang sales totaled nearly 38,000 units
“Wuling will continue to extend its presence in China’s passenger car market,” said Mike Devereux, executive vice president of SAIC-GM-Wuling. “We will launch our first Wuling SUV, the Hong Guang S3, in November to meet our customers’ evolving demands.”
Sales Results - October 2017 - China - Baojun
| MODEL | OCT 2017 / OCT 2016 | OCTOBER 2017 | OCTOBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAOJUN TOTAL | +55.96% | 104,755 | 67,169 | +45.30% | 744,962 | 512,703 |
Sales Results - October 2017 - China - Wuling
| MODEL | OCT 2017 / OCT 2016 | OCTOBER 2017 | OCTOBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WULING TOTAL | -14.87% | 92,588 | 108,760 | -18.56% | 893,200 | 1,096,813 |
Sales Results - October 2017 - China - Jiefang
| MODEL | OCT 2017 / OCT 2016 | OCTOBER 2017 | OCTOBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JIEFANG TOTAL | -100.00% | 0 | 36 | -100.00% | 0 | 432 |
Sales Results - October 2017 - China - Chevrolet
| MODEL | OCT 2017 / OCT 2016 | OCTOBER 2017 | OCTOBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +16.99% | 61,065 | 52,195 | +2.14% | 407,672 | 399,115 |
Sales Results - October 2017 - China - Cadillac
| MODEL | OCT 2017 / OCT 2016 | OCTOBER 2017 | OCTOBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CADILLAC TOTAL | +36.12% | 17,018 | 12,502 | +58.21% | 141,643 | 89,530 |
Sales Results - October 2017 - China - Buick
| MODEL | OCT 2017 / OCT 2016 | OCTOBER 2017 | OCTOBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUICK TOTAL | +2.12% | 107,297 | 105,071 | -2.29% | 943,385 | 965,455 |
Sales Results - October 2017 - China - GM Totals
| BRAND | OCT 2017 / OCT 2016 | OCTOBER 2017 | OCTOBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAOJUN TOTAL | +55.96% | 104,755 | 67,169 | +45.30% | 744,962 | 512,703 |
| JIEFANG TOTAL | -100.00% | 0 | 36 | -100.00% | 0 | 432 |
| WULING TOTAL | -14.87% | 92,588 | 108,760 | -18.56% | 893,200 | 1,096,813 |
| CHEVROLET TOTAL | +16.99% | 61,065 | 52,195 | +2.14% | 407,672 | 399,115 |
| CADILLAC TOTAL | +36.12% | 17,018 | 12,502 | +58.21% | 141,643 | 89,530 |
| BUICK TOTAL | +2.12% | 107,297 | 105,071 | -2.29% | 943,385 | 965,455 |
| GM CHINA TOTAL | +10.70% | 382,723 | 345,733 | +2.18% | 3,130,862 | 3,064,048 |
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to GM China October 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 news
- Running GM sales results
- Running Chevrolet sales results
- Running Cadillac sales results
- Running Buick sales results
- Running GMC sales results
- GM incentives and offers
- October 2017 GM sales results
- U.S. GM October 2017 sales results
- U.S. October 2017 Chevrolet sales results
- U.S. October 2017 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. October 2017 Buick sales results
- U.S. October 2017 GMC sales results
- GM Canada October 2017 sales results
- Canada October 2017 Chevrolet sales results
- Canada October 2017 Cadillac sales results
- Canada October 2017 Buick sales results
- Canada October 2017 GMC sales results
- Global October 2017 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. GM October 2017 sales results
Comments
OK – so, Alex, this is good news.
As usual, I ask: what’s it mean after SAIC takes their cut, and all the other variables that enter into it? (Exchange rates, etc.).
Oh, and a couple more questions:
– do you think Cadillac is becoming the vehicle Buick used to represent in China? And …
– do you see GM’s EV technology developing faster in China than it is NA? (Like, it’s a good (huge) place to perfect EV, and more).
Sorry to bug. Just curious, and trying to dig a little deeper).
Cheers – CC
Hey CC,
Sorry for the late reply. The workload and news cycle are intense this week, but I bookmarked your question to return to – so here goes.
1. To factor in SAIC’s cut, we might as well cut these sales in half. That’s the (rough) net-net of the impact to GM’s bottom line.
2. No, I don’t think Cadillac is becoming what Buick is/was in China. Cadillac is becoming a thing of its own… and the Chinese really value anything European and American. They couldn’t get a Cadillac in the past because of the sky-high prices (due to import taxes) and very crappy availability.
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2017/09/why-cadillac-sales-are-up-in-china/
Buick isn’t really seen as a luxury brand… its popularity is not that big outside the entry-level models (Excelle), which sells for what a Cruze sells for here.
3. From what I know, GM’s EV efforts have not at all been focused on China (this is as recent as of one or two months ago). However, this could change with China’s recently-announced EV targets… which I expect will be revised to be less aggressive.
EV sales in China is increasing because the buyers want them. In the U.S., most buyers don’t want EVs because they don’t care about the benefits of an EV or reducing emissions. Since gasoline prices are artificially kept low, ICEVs sell better, but an EV is still cheaper in consumed energy cost and has the lowest TCO. This is why the Chevy Bolt EV is now the sales leader for its price range and has passed the Chevy Volt in monthly sales. Buyers love it!
Ummm… well, I’m not so sure about the notion that Chinese car buyers “want” EVs. I don’t see this being the case whatsoever. In fact, I’d peg natural EV demand in China to be even lower than in the States.
Now, this could all be manipulated by government subsidies and such… which are actually the reason that cars like the Buick Verano GS with a tiny turbo engine exist in China… and there’s nothing “GS or Grand Sport” about it.