Multinational auto companies share China auto market growth dividend

BEIJING, January 10 (Xinhua): Multinational auto companies share the Chinese auto market growth dividend in recent days, multinational car companies such as GM, Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen have announced their 2009 performance in China.　　In stark contrast to the global success of other markets, multinational car companies have achieved double-digit growth in China last year, or even more than 60% per cent. As foreign investors, many multinational car companies share a strong growth in China's auto market dividend. The world's big car giants are far more profitable in China than the global average, and some are making up for losses in other markets, even on China's earnings.　　The good performance of the Chinese market has become a key factor in rescuing some multinational car companies. The bankruptcy reorganization of General Motors last year in the United States sales of only 2.08 million vehicles, a full 900,000 less than a year ago, down 30.1%. GM's sales in Europe also fell.　　With GM's two joint ventures in Shanghai and SAIC-GM Wuling, GM sold 1.826 million cars in China last year, up 66.9% per cent year-on-year, and topped the list of multinational car companies in China for the 5th consecutive year.　　Kevin Wale, president and general manager of General Motors (China), points out that GM's "explosive" growth in the Chinese market has benefited from China's aggressive policy of boosting domestic demand and the new strategy of GM China. Ford, the US car giant, escaped bankruptcy but was affected by the financial crisis, and global sales continued to slide last year.　　In the Chinese market, Ford has achieved a decent performance. Graziano, chairman and chief executive of Ford Motor (China) Co., told Xinhua that Ford Motor sales in China reached a record 440,619 last year, up 44% per cent year-on-year. China has become the world's fastest-growing market for Ford.　　Ford's China passenger car joint venture, Changan Ford Mazda, sold up to 315,791 units last year, up 55% per cent, above China's average growth rate. Volkswagen is expected to reach 7 million vehicles a year in 2009, up 10% from 6.23 million last year. In the biggest market for VW in China, sales rose 36.7% to a record 1.4 million vehicles.　　The VW brand and Audi brand have both maintained growth of more than 30% and the Skoda brand has doubled. Toyota, Nissan, Honda, the three major Japanese car companies, in China last year, although the overall performance is inferior to the European and American car companies, but also achieved more than 20% growth.　　The best performance is Nissan, Nissan's investment company in China Dongfeng Limited last year, car sales of 924,000 vehicles, an increase of 30%. Toyota's global sales fell sharply in 2009 and is expected to fall from nearly 9 million vehicles in 2008 to around 7 million vehicles. But in the Chinese market, Toyota's sales rose 21% year-on-year, to record 709,000 vehicles.　　Honda (China) and two joint ventures in China, Guangzhou Honda and Dongfeng Honda, last year sold nearly 580,000 vehicles, up 23% per cent year-on-year. Korea Hyundai and upLast year's performance in China also soared, with sales reaching record highs of 800,000 vehicles.　　Beijing Hyundai sold 570,000 vehicles, a surge of 93.6% per cent year-on-year.　　Many multinational car companies are very optimistic about this year and even the next few years of China's auto market, have expanded investment in China, accelerate the introduction of new technologies and new products. Vahland, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said the Chinese auto market is expected to grow 10% to 15% in 2010. In the new year, VW will introduce 7 new models and start producing the latest 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmissions in Dalian.　　Volkswagen is expected to meet its target of reducing the average fuel consumption and emissions by 20% in the full range of vehicles this year. Dongyan, executive vice president and secretary general of China Automotive Industry Association, told reporters that in 2009 China's auto production and sales of more than 13.5 million vehicles, the first to become the world's largest automobile production and marketing. He predicts that in 2010 China will have more than 15 million cars, and multinational car companies will undoubtedly continue to benefit from it.