Auto sales jump in 'Golden September' as shoppers return to showrooms

BEIJING/SHANGHAI -- China auto sales marked a sixth straight month of gain, rebounding a solid 12.8 percent overall in September as the world's biggest vehicle market comes off lows hit during the coronavirus lockdown.

Sales reached 2.57 million vehicles last month but were still down 6.9 percent for the year to date at 17.12 million vehicles, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Passenger vehicle sales rose 8 percent in September. Geely Automobile Holdings, Great Wall Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. were among those that booked double-digit growth. For heavy trucks and other commercial vehicles, which constitute around a quarter of the overall market, sales surged 40 percent in September, driven by government investment in infrastructure and as buyers upgraded to comply with tougher emissions rules.

This time of year, known as "Golden September, Silver October", is usually a highpoint in sales for the industry, with consumers venturing out to make purchases after having stayed away from showrooms during the stifling summer months.

"Based on our dealer channel checks, the growth in momentum extended into the October Golden Week, as retail sales exceeded dealers' expectations," said Haitong International analyst Shi Ji.

The Beijing auto show, promotional events and policies enacted by local governments to support the auto sector helped sales growth in September, senior CAAM official Chen Shihua told reporters.

New energy vehicles did particularly well with sales surging 67.7 percent to 138,000 for their third consecutive month of gain. NEVs include battery-powered electric, plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

NEV makers such as home-grown Nio Inc. and Xpeng Inc. as well as foreign companies like Tesla Incs are expanding manufacturing capacity in China where the government has aggressively promoted greener vehicles to reduce air pollution.

Tesla on Tuesday cut prices for Model S sedans by around 4 percent in the United States as well as other key markets like China. Tesla also cut the starting price of its Chinese-made Model 3 sedan this month by about 8 percent to 249,900 yuan ($36,805).