China’s Vehicle Sales Top U.S. Tally for First Time

[Coventina]

Source: Bloomberg

Feb. 10 (Bloomberg) -- China vehicle sales topped the U.S.’s for the first time last month, as economic growth, price cuts and government support tempered declines in demand caused by rising job loses.

January auto sales in China totaled 735,500, a 14 percent drop, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said in an e-mailed statement today. That compares with a 37 percent plunge to 656,693 in the U.S., the world’s largest auto market last year.

Chinese vehicle sales have surged fivefold over the past decade as export-fueled economic growth above 10 percent made General Motors Corp. and Volkswagen AG cars affordable to more people. This year, demand has fallen less than in the U.S. as a 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion) stimulus package helps the country avoid the worst of the global recession.

“This just shows how important China has become to the world’s automakers,” said Yale Zhang, director of CSM Asia in Shanghai. “Still, it’s very unlikely that China will stay ahead for the full year. The U.S. has a much bigger consumer market.”



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aO6D7VAni3ME&refer=asia

[fasttense]

1. I wonder if the Chinese would like to buy a house in the US? n/t

[Gin]

2. I read that they have bus loads of Chinese touring repossessed

houses....so...they heard your question.

[FarCenter]

3. They have 64,672,053 automobiles

"As of the end of 2008, China’s motor vehicle population has totaled 169,887,744, with 64,672,053 automobiles, 89,537,775 motorcycles, 1,014,380 trailers, 14,642,694 tractors running on road and 20,842 other motor vehicles. The number of China’s motor vehicle drivers has reached 180,660,736, including 122,092,132 automobile drivers."

http://www.bjjtgl.gov.cn/publish/portal1/tab165/info9910.htm

---

About 1/4 the number of autos with about 4 times the population compared with the United States. The pent up demand is huge.

[nc4bo]

4. Recently saw a teevee commercial where they bragged about it too

and admit to several feelings of mix emotions all at the same time; anger, embarrassment and dismay.

[snooper2]

5. Since the have so many people....

You would think one of them would come up with an original fucking idea instead of ripping off everyone else...

[Sultana]

6. Embarrassing

A billion ppl and not one could come up w/ a orignal design, sheesh! :eyes:

[pampango]

7. Wonder what the poster has to say about other ethnic groups and nationalities?

The Chinese can't "come up with an original fucking idea". How about Blacks, Hispanics, Jews? Any advice on what they can and can't do as groups?

Sometimes I have to double check to make sure some computer virus hasn't hijacked my browser and taken me to Freeperland. ;)

[Sultana]

8. Oh shut your trap!

[pampango]

9. Why? n/t