General Motors and its joint ventures reported 835,934 new vehicle deliveries for the third quarter 2018 in China, a 15 percent decrease from Q3 2017.
Sales increased only at Cadillac, while decreasing at Chevrolet, Buick, Wuling and Baojun.
The automaker attributes the sales decline to a “softening vehicle market”.
Shanghai GM Sales – Q3 2018
Third quarter 2018 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 – Q3 2018
Chevrolet sales decreased 16.7 percent to 118,240 units, ending the brand’s eight consecutive months of double-digit growth:
- Chevrolet Cavalier sales increased 6.3 percent to 48,482 units, remaining the brand’s best-selling model
- The Cavalier was initially introduced as the second-generation Cruze in China, but was renamed to Cavalier when the all-new, second-gen global Cruze was introduced in the market
- Chevrolet introduced the Cavalier 325T with a new-generation Ecotec 1.0L turbocharged engine in March to bolster sales
- Chevrolet Equinox sales increased 88 percent to over 19,000 units
- Chevrolet Malibu sales were not announced
- Chevrolet Orlando sales were not announced, but the all-new seven-seat MPV was launched in September to meet the needs of consumers with “varied lifestyles”
Buick China Sales – Q3 2018
Buick sales decreased 19.1 percent to 251,581 units:
- Buick Excelle GT remained the most popular Buick model, accounted for 61,512 units
- Buick Regal sales increased 73 percent to 26,994 units; the model sold in China is the Regal Sedan, while the model sold in North America is the Sportback, which is a different body style
In March 2017, 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. The model has been delayed due to quality issues supplying the battery. In the coming two years, the brand will launch plug-in hybrid and pure battery electric vehicles to expand its green car lineup. The brand will soon introduce a new hybrid model called Velite 6 in China.
GM also says that Buick is undergoing a technology changeover in China by shifting to using cutting-edge small displacement engines that offer further improved performance and efficiency.
Cadillac China Sales – Q3 2018
Cadillac sales increased 4 percent to 46,020 units, achieving a new third quarter record:
- Cadillac XT5 sales remained the brand’s best-seller, recording 14,986 deliveries
- Cadillac XTS sales increased 29 percent to 13,784 units
- Cadillac CT6 sales increased 28 percent to 3,843 units
- Cadillac XT4 sales were not disclosed, but the compact crossover launched in August, becoming the brand’s first entry in one of the market’s fastest-growing segments
Cadillac’s sales performance in China outpaced its U.S. sales volume by 8,729 units during the month.
During the CES Asia 2018 in Shanghai, Cadillac debuted Super Cruise for the Chinese market. Super Cruise is the industry’s first true hands-free driving technology for the highway, and will be offered in China on the Cadillac CT6 40T Platinum.
SAIC-GM-Wuling Sales – Q3 2018
Third quarter 2018 sales results at GM’s other Chinese joint venture — SAIC-GM-Wuling — were as follows:
Baojun China Sales – Q3 2018
Baojun sales decreased 24.1 percent to 188,751 units:
- Baojun 510 sales totaled 70,415 units, remaining the brand’s best-seller
- Baojun 360 sales totaled 29,042 units; the new six-seat MPV for commuting and family use launched in May 2018
- Baojun E200 sales were not reported; the Baojun E220 went on sale in September and includes more than 200 upgrades from its popular sibling, the E100 electric vehicle.
Wuling China Sales – Q3 2018
Wuling sales decreased 2.0 percent to 231,342 units, sustaining its leadership in commercial vehicles:
- Sales of the Hong Guang MPV family, Wuling’s best-selling nameplate, reached 92,983 deliveries
First Nine Months Of 2018
In the first nine months of 2018, GM China sales decreased 2.5 percent to 2,680,330 units.
Sales Results - Q3 2018 - China - GM Totals
BRAND | Q3 2018 / Q3 2017 | Q3 2018 | Q3 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAOJUN TOTAL | -24.14% | 188,751 | 248,809 | -1.31% | 631,818 | 640,207 |
WULING TOTAL | -2.03% | 231,342 | 236,147 | -4.49% | 764,643 | 800,612 |
CHEVROLET TOTAL | -16.71% | 118,240 | 141,963 | +9.78% | 380,502 | 346,607 |
CADILLAC TOTAL | +3.96% | 46,020 | 44,268 | +20.21% | 149,811 | 124,625 |
BUICK TOTAL | -19.14% | 251,581 | 311,124 | -9.87% | 753,556 | 836,088 |
GM CHINA TOTAL | -14.90% | 835,934 | 982,311 | -2.47% | 2,680,330 | 2,748,139 |
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to GM China Q3 2017 sales
- GM China sales figures 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
Comments
some people don’t think china matters but gm stock got a good haircut on this news. it is back below IPO price.
if gm’s cruise automation is being valued at about 12 billion or so, the rest of gm has a market cap about the same as ford.
If the trade war continues, the Chinese dictatorship could decide to nationalize all American business partnerships including appropriating all their assets and kick them out of China. These guys don’t screw around and you can’t win against a communist dictatorship with absolute power.
Ford is even more at risk.