Chinese automakers’ sales of sedans/hatchbacks, SUVs, MPVs and microvans grew 13.5% year-on-year to 1.58m units in March.

The Chinese car market has continued to show rising momentum this year after picking up at the end of 2012.

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Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reveals that wholesales of Chinese-made passenger cars totalled 4.42m in the first quarter, a rise of 17.3% from the corresponding period of the previous year. In the first quarter, MPV sales rose 55%, making it the fastest growing sector, while micro-van sales fell 8.4%.

Passenger car sales in March (wholesales)

Segment

March

Year on year change

Sedans

1,035,646

10.4%

MPVs

119,780

54.4%

SUVs

236,102

32.6%

Micro vans

191,255

-4.7%

Total

1,582,783

13.5%

Passenger car sales in Q1 2013 (wholesales)

Segment

Q1 2013

Year on year

change

Sedans

2,970,170

15.7%

MPVs

319,257

55%

SUVs

636,434

40%

Micro vans

492,872

-8.4%

Total

4,418,733

17.3%

Sales of ten largest passenger carmakers in March:

1. SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW): 141,601

2. Shanghai-GM: 133,862

3. Shanghai-Volkswagen (SVW): 131,866

4. FAW-Volkswagen: 129,550

5. Changan Auto: 93,229

6. Beijing-Hyundai: 83,500

7. Changan-Ford: 61,792

8. Dongfeng-Nissan: 61,321

9. Great Wall: 56,802

10. FAW-Toyota: 52,372

See also: CHINA: LMC sees 10% growth in China light vehicle market this year

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