June's New-car Sales in Taiwan Rebounds 43% MoM

Taipei, July 10, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan's new-car sales in June climbed more than 40% to reach 26,200 units, a 17-month high, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).

Hotai Motor Co. Ltd., agent of both locally assembled and imported Toyota and Lexus cars, led in June by selling more than 10,000 cars to win an over-40% market share. Eye-catching sales volume in June also turned the Hotai's first-half sales volume into a positive year-on-year (YoY) growth. Hotai's June sales grew 63.2% YoY.

MOTC's data showed that new-car sales in June grew 25.8% YoY and 43.5% MoM to a record high since January of 2008. A total of 120,001 new cars were sold in the first six months, narrowing the YoY decrease to 9.3%. Some automakers have raised their forecast for the overall annual market to 250,000 units.

Industry insiders said that new-car sales in June exceeded their original expectations that might be related to auto distributors' sales competitions, which drove different car brands to provide more incentives.

In addition, the sources added, the long-deferred replacement purchases were realized in June due to the recovery of the local stock market and the improving economic conditions in the second quarter.

Thanks to the delivery of the new Outlander sport utility vehicle (SUV), China Motor Corp. (CMC), the local assembler of Mitsubishis, enjoyed a 76.7% MoM sales growth in June with 4,332 cars sold, putting CMC back to the No. 2 position.

New Car Sales in Taiwan (1st Half)
Make	Jan.-June Volume	Market Share	YoY
Toyota (Kuozui)	45,043	37.5%	1.9%
Mitsubishi (China Motor)	19,327	16.1%	-8.4%
Nissan (Yulon)	14,403	12.0%	-4.1%
Honda (Honda Taiwan)	10,482	8.7%	-10.5%
Ford (Ford Lio Ho)	6,566	5.5%	-16.1%
Mazda (Ford Lio Ho)	5,006	4.2%	-5.0%
Hyundai (Sanyang)	2,645	2.2%	-38.0%
Suzuki (Prince Motor)	2,321	1.9%	-52.9%
Ohters	14,208	11.8%	--
Overall	120,001	100%	-9.3%
Source: MOTC.