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China's sales of sedans, sport utility vehicles, minivans and multipurpose vehicles in July fell 3.9 per cent from a year earlier to 1.53 million units. Photo: AP
EconomyChina Economy

China’s historic car market decline continues as US trade war and emissions clampdown hit sales

  • Sales of sedans, sport utility vehicles, minivans and multipurpose vehicles in July fell 3.9 per cent from a year earlier to 1.53 million units
  • US-China trade war, tighter regulations and a slowing Chinese economy combine to hit sales in the world’s largest car market
China economy
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Bloomberg
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China’s car deliveries continued to shrink in July, extending the market’s historic decline, according to data released on Monday.

Sales of sedans, sport utility vehicles, minivans and multipurpose vehicles in July fell 3.9 per cent from a year earlier to 1.53 million units, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said, indicating the 13th consecutive monthly decline.

The first car slump in a generation is showing no signs of easing as the Chinese economy faces a slowdown and stricter emissions rules and the trade war weigh on demand.

Carmakers that relied on the world’s largest vehicle market for growth for decades, pouring billions of dollars into the country, are now left questioning future investment decisions.

US President Donald Trump said this month that the United States will impose an additional 10 per cent tariff on another US$300 billion worth of Chinese exports starting in September, after the two sides ended their first face-to-face talks in three months without progress.

The International Monetary Fund said the row is set to reduce China’s economic growth and lead to “significant negative spillovers globally”.

Retail sales of cars in China fell for the 13th time in the past 14 months in July, plunging 5.3 per cent, the China Passenger Car Association (PCA) said last week. Unlike PCA figures, CAAM’s numbers detail deliveries made to dealerships, not end consumers.
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