Summary: Top performers in the Chinese passenger automobile market in September

According to Gasgoo.com (Chinese), Shanghai General Motors was September's top seller of passenger automobile markets in China. It was followed by FAW-VW, Shanghai VW, Beijing Hyundai, SAIC-GM-Wuling, Dongfeng Nissan, Changan Ford, Changan Automobile, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën and Dongfeng Yueda Kia in that order.

Shanghai GM saw its sales total 161,500 units over the course of the month. For the first time this year, the joint venture's year-on-year growth of 17.5 percent was ahead of its two major rivals FAW-VW and Shanghai VW. The JV owes its success to key models such as the Buick Excelle (Kaiyue), Chevrolet Sail and Chevrolet Cruze, monthly sales of which totaled 29,500 units, 25,400 units and 24,300 units, respectively. However, when looking at cumulative results for the first three quarters of the year, Shanghai GM lagged behind the two VW-affiliated JVs, with its sales totaling 1.23 million units. As such there is little chance that it will rank number one for the year.

FAW Volkswagen, which has led the monthly passenger automobile sales charts for six months straight, was forced into second place this year. The JV's monthly sales totaled 150,100 units. However it still manages to lead the cumulative rankings for the first three quarters of the year with total sales of 1.35 million units. If it manages to sustain its current year-on-year growth rate of 19.4 percent, it should be able to finish ahead of the pack by the year's end.

Shanghai VW, meanwhile, has seen its sales slip due to the current internal restructuring it is undergoing. The JV's sales of 145,000 units in September was equivalent to year-on-year growth of just 2.4 percent. It has sold near 1.35 million units over the first three quarters of the year, just a few hundred vehicles short of FAW-VW. Shanghai VW has remained on FAW-VW's tail since the beginning of the year.

Beijing Hyundai stably led the group of second tier manufacturers in both of the charts. In September it sold a total of 95,300 vehicles, and has sold 812,400 units since the beginning of the year. However, its low year-on-year growth rates is troubling. This has been due to the small number of new products when compared with its competitors.

SAIC-GM-Wuling placed fifth place once again in the monthly sales charts. Its monthly sales of 85,600 units represented year-on-year growth of 39.7 percent. Its Wuling Hongguang is still a market leader with total monthly sales of 60,700 units. Meanwhile, monthly sales of the new Baojun 730, which debuted in August, increased from 12,000 units in its first month to 21,000 units in September. SAIC-GM-Wuling has sold a total of 626,200 units since the beginning of the year. Its year-on-year growth for that time frame is a commendable 53.4 percent.

Similarly, own brand manufacturer Changan Automobile's year-on-year growth rates were also very high. Its rates for September and three quarter period were 44.5 percent and 43.4 percent, respectively. Changan remains the only own brand to place in the top ten charts, ranking eighth place in both charts.

Dongfeng Yueda Kia's year-on-year sales growth rate of 26.4 percent for the month of September was also respectable, as was Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën's 9.1 percent. By comparison, September sales of both Dongfeng Nissan and Changan Ford both fell when compared to figures from the previous year.