Japanese automakers recovered from the big slump in car sales in China in 2012 by registering significant growth in sales in December, carmakers Toyota Motor Corp, Nissan Motor Co Ltd and Honda Motor Co Ltd said last week.
Toyota and its two local partners sold about 108,400 automobiles in China in December 2013, up 19.4 percent from a year earlier, while Honda and its two local joint ventures sold a record 101,465 automobiles, up 60.4 percent from a year earlier, and Nissan and its local joint-venture sold 134,200 automobiles in China in December, up 70.4 percent from a year earlier, the Japanese automakers said.
For Toyota the rise follows a 40.7 percent year-on-year jump in November and an 80.6 percent rise in October, which were partly boosted by a low base from 2012 when sales tumbled due to a surge in anti-Japan sentiment following a territorial dispute between Beijing and Tokyo.
Honda’s jump follows a 101.5 percent year-on-year rise in November and a 211 percent surge in October. Nissan followed its 95.7 percent year-on-year jump in November and an 127.8 percent surge in October.
In 2013, Toyota sold about 917,500 vehicles, up 9.2 percent from a year earlier, beating its target of 900,000 vehicles. Honda, which introduced its newest version of the Accord and the Jade in September, sold 756,882 vehicles in 2013, up 26.4 percent from a year earlier and hitting a record high. In 2013, Nissan sold 1,266,200 vehicles, up 17.2 percent from a year earlier, matching its target of 1.25 million vehicles.
This year, Nissan plans to launch production of upscale Infiniti brand cars in China, while also adding new models under the Venucia brand.
Toyota operates joint ventures in China with FAW Group and Guangzhou Automobile Group. Honda is in partnership with Dongfeng Motor Group Co and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd, while Nissan makes vehicles in partnership with Dongfeng Motor Group Co Ltd.
