Aaaaaaaaand Here We Go: China's Auto Market Shifting To SUVs, Other Larger Models

[hatrack]

EDIT

Sedans were also bigger than at previous Chinese auto shows. Ford promoted its Lincoln brand, which it is bringing to China. Many manufacturers gave prominence to luxury cars, a nod to the rising affluence in China of the upper middle class and the wealthy.

“Our focus is on luxury vehicles and S.U.V.’s going forward,” said Bob Socia, president of G.M. China, which has been neck-and-neck for years with Volkswagen as the Chinese market leader.

“Not long ago, both were considered niche segments,” he said. “Both are now mainstream and growing rapidly.”

S.U.V. sales jumped 49 percent in March from a year ago as new models poured into the market. Overall auto sales in China climbed 13 percent in March and are on track for almost 21 million vehicles sold this year. By comparison, the latest forecasts in the United States this year are for a little more than 15 million vehicles. Both totals include sales of pickup trucks and other light commercial vehicles.

EDIT

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/automobiles/autoshow/chinese-auto-market-shifts-toward-larger-cars.html?_r=1&

[DonCoquixote]

1. sigh

a wisecrack about America is that we went from youth to senility. China's epitaph will be they went from Maoism to Ayn Rand gluttony.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Uh oh.

[cprise]

3. Rushing to get them in under the wire

The Chinese government just put through higher fuel efficiency standards.

So, hopefully, the addendum to this story will be: "But not for long."