Economic operation of China's automobile industry in March 2022

In March, affected by the COVID-19, chip supply shortage and other factors, China's automobile production and sales decreased by 9.1% and 11.7% respectively year-on-year. The sales volume of new energy vehicles continued to maintain high-speed growth, and the market penetration rate reached 21.7%.

In the first quarter of 2022, China's automobile production and sales have made steady progress, with year-on-year growth of 2.0% and 0.2% respectively. The production and sales of new energy vehicles increased by 1.4 times year-on-year.

1. The automobile sales volume decreased by 11.7% year-on-year in March

In March, China's automobile production and sales reached 2.241 million and 2.234 million

respectively, with a month-on-month increase of 23.4% and 28.4% respectively, and a year-on-year decrease of 9.1% and 11.7% respectively.

From January to March, China's automobile production and sales reached 6.484 million and 6.599 million respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 2.0% and 0.2% respectively. The growth rate was 6.8% and 7.3% lower than that from January to February.

1) The sales volume of passenger vehicles decreased by 0.6% year-on-year in March

In March, 1.881 million and 1.864 million passenger vehicles were produced and sold respectively, with a year-on-year decrease of 0.1% and 0.6% respectively. In terms of models, the production and sales of cars were 881,000 and 872,000 respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 2.3% and 0.2% respectively; the production and sales of SUVs reached 888,000 and 876,000 respectively, with a year-on-year decrease of 0.3% and 0.1% respectively; the production and sales of

MPVs reached 76,000 and 71,000 respectively, with a year-on-year decrease of 28.5% and 23.7% respectively; the production and sales of cross type passenger vehicles were 37,000 and 45,000 respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 39.4% and 34.1% respectively.

From January to March, the production and sales of passenger vehicles reached 5.499 million and 5.545 million respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 11.0% and 9.0% respectively. In terms of models, the production and sales of cars were 2.554 million and 2.584 million, with an increase of 11.1% and 8.4% respectively year-on-year; the production and sales of SUVs reached 2.65 million and 2.667 million respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 12.7% and 10.4% respectively; the production and sales of MPVs reached 202,000 and 204,000 respectively, with a year-on-year decrease of 15.4% and 7.8% respectively; the production and sales of cross type passenger vehicles were 94,000 and 89,000 respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 40.0% and 35.0% respectively.

2) The sales volume of commercial vehicles decreased by 43.5% year-on-year in March

In March, China produced and sold 360,000 and 370,000 commercial vehicles respectively, decreased 38.0% and 43.5% year-on-year. In terms of models, the production and sales of trucks were 325,000 and 332,000 respectively, decreased 39.0% and 44.8% year-on-year respectively; The production and sales of passenger cars were 36,000 and 38,000 respectively, with a year-on-year decrease of 27.9% and 27.8% respectively.

From January to March, the production and sales of commercial vehicles in China reached 985,000 and 965,000 respectively, a year-on-year decrease of 29.7% and 31.7% respectively. In terms of models, the production and sales of trucks were 895,000 and 873,000 respectively, with a year-on-year decrease of 30.7% and 32.8% respectively; The production and sales of passenger vehicles were 90,000 and 91,000 respectively, with a year-on-year decrease of 18.5% and 18.7% respectively.

2. The sales volume of new energy vehicles increased by 1.1 times year-on-year in March

In March, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 465,000 and 484,000 respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 1.1 times, and the market penetration rate was 21.7%. In terms of models, the production and sales of pure electric vehicles were 376,000 and 396,000 respectively, with an increase of 1.1 times year-on-year; the production and sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were 89,000 and 88,000 respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 1.6 times and 1.4 times respectively; the production and sales of fuel cell vehicles reached 500 and 367 respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 10.1 times and 5.2 times respectively.

From January to March, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 1.293 million and 1.257 million respectively, an increase of 1.4 times year-on-year, and the market penetration rate was 19.3%. In terms of models, the production and sales of pure electric vehicles were 1,036,000 and 1,070,000 respectively, with an increase of 1.3 times year-on-year; the production and sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles reached 256,000 and 249,000 respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 2.3 times and 2.0 times respectively; the production and sales of fuel cell vehicles were 856 and 738 respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 7.2 times and 3.9 times respectively.

3. Automobile exports increased by 28.8% year-on-year in March

In March, China exported 170,000 complete vehicles, with a year-on-year increase of 28.8%. In terms of models, the export of passenger vehicles was 121,000, up 21.8% year-on-year; the export of commercial vehicles was 49,000, with a year-on-year increase of 49.8%. The export of new energy vehicles was 16,000, with a year-on-year increase of 71.5%.

From January to March, China exported 582,000 complete vehicles, with a year-on-year increase of 58.3%. In terms of models, 452,000 passenger vehicles were exported, increased 61.9% year-on-year; the export of commercial vehicles was 130,000, increased 47.2% year-on-year. The export of new energy vehicles was 120,000, with a year-on-year increase of 2.9 times.

(Note: the above data were from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers)

Translated by; WONDEE Autoparts

2022/6/2