In April this year, production and sales of automotive vehicles in China amounted to 2.102 million units and 2.07 million units, respectively, up 46.6 percent and 43.5 percent month on month due to the revival of industrial operations following the control of the Covid-19 virus. At the same time, output and sales increased by 2.3 percent and 4.4 percent year on year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). The month-on-month rises in production and sales of automotive vehicles were the first month-on-month rises seen this year. In particular, the sales growth ended 21 consecutive months of decline.
In the January-April period of the year, production and sales of automotive vehicles in China amounted to 5.596 million units and 5.761 million units, respectively, down 33.4 percent and 31.1 percent year on year, because of weak results for the February-March period.
In April, passenger vehicle output and sales in China totaled 1.587 million units and 1.536 units, up 49.7 percent and 45.6 percent month on month, though still decreasing by 4.6 percent and 2.6 percent year on year. Though sales of passenger cars have not fully recovered yet, the year-on-year declines were much lower, narrowing by 45.3 and 45.8 percentage points compared to the year-on-year declines seen in March.
In the January-April period this year, passenger vehicle output and sales in China totaled 4.291 million units and 4.433 million units, down 37.8 percent and 35.3 percent year on year.
In April, commercial vehicle output and sales posted strong growth, rising to 514,000 units and 534,000 units, hitting new record historical highs, up 37.8 percent and 37.7 percent month on month, while rising by 31.3 percent and 31.6 percent year on year. In the first four months of the year, output and sales of commercial vehicles amounted to 1.304 million units and 1.328 million units, down 13.1 percent and 12.4 percent year on year.
In April, the production and sales of new energy vehicles came to 80,000 units and 72,000 units, down 22.1 percent and 26.5 percent respectively year on year, while up 60 percent and 35.8 percent month on month. In the January-April period, both production and sales of new energy vehicles came to 205,000 units, down 44.8 percent and 43.4 percent year on year.