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Global carmakers are positive about China's luxury SUV market as the growing wealth of consumers and limits on car purchases drive the demand for upmarket models.
With the shift in demand, many carmakers have brought their concept prototypes and close-to-production premium SUVs to this year's Shanghai car show, which runs until April 29.
Two of the three models at the showroom of Lincoln, the luxury brand of Ford Motor, are SUVs.
Robert Parker, the president of Lincoln China, said SUVs were the fastest-growing segment in the Chinese car market and the trend would continue.
"What we see now in China is exactly what happened in the US in the 1990s, with more people liking the features of SUVs such as seating position and visibility," Parker said on the sidelines at the opening of the car show yesterday.
Lincoln announced at the opening it had started to receive pre-orders for its MKX SUV, priced from 479,000 yuan (HK$599,000).
Parker sees rising demand for upmarket SUVs from families needing to find space in their cars for children and parents.
"Chinese families may have only one car, then they will choose a bigger one," he said.
Parker also expects growth in the luxury segment in China to surpass that of the US as consumers become wealthier.
Volvo, the Swedish car brand owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, featured its XC90 Excellence SUV, a top line version of its XC90 which priced from 828,000 yuan.
Lars Danielson, the chief executive of Volvo Cars China, also said SUVs were a very popular segment in China, with demand rising. Volvo has had strong positioning in the SUV segment in China with its best-selling model being the X60 SUV.
Danielson said the growth in China's car market was slowing but Volvo was likely to outperform the general market with its strength in the SUV segment.
Roland Krueger, the president of Infiniti, also said the SUV growth trend would continue.
The luxury brand of Japan's Nissan Motor launched its QX50 SUV model - targeting the younger rich - at the show. Kruger said Infiniti planned to localise production of the model.
Andreas Graef, a principal at consultancy AT Kearney, said the SUV segment in China would continue to see high growth.
The SUV trend had extended into the luxury and ultra-luxury segments over the past two to three years, driven by the growing wealth of consumers, as well as the comfortable driving experience, convenient seating and roomy design.
SUV sales rose 36.4 per cent last year, outpacing the 9.9 per cent growth in the overall market, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers data shows.
Premium brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz dominated the mid to large model segment, Graef said. "But we will see lots of new SUV debuts from Chinese carmakers, especially in the mid and small car segments," he said.


Global marques go on SUV drive in China

A visitor takes a closer look at a Lifan X70 SUV at the Shanghai car show. Demand for luxury SUVs in China is expected to grow. Photo: Reuters

Business

China Business

Surge in mainland demand sees manufacturers bring luxury models to the Shanghai car show


.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}New | Global marques go on SUV drive in China

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Surge in mainland demand sees manufacturers bring luxury models to the Shanghai car show

New | Global marques go on SUV drive in China

Surge in mainland demand sees manufacturers bring luxury models to the Shanghai car show