Shanghai (ZXZC)- In April 2021, automakers in China sold around 1.696 million locally-produced passenger vehicles (only including cars, SUVs, MPVs, and minibuses), representing a year-on-year growth of 10.6%, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

Compared to the year-ago period, the MPV was the fastest-growing segment for the month of April. Both the SUV and the minibus units also recorded double-digit increase from the previous year. However, the growth in car sales stood at only 2.9%.

Wuling Hongguang PLUS; photo credit: SAIC-GM-Wuling

Due to the low base for the prior-year period, the Jan.-Apr. PV wholesales in China surged 53.9% year over year to 6.774 million units. Notably, the growth rates in year-to-date wholesale volumes of cars, SUVs, and MPVs all exceeded 50%.

Among the top 10 PV models by April wholesale volume, the Wuling Hongguang was the only MPV model. The hotter-selling MPV used to be a regular on the top 10 PVs list, while it had failed to enter the list for several months as of March this year.

There were five car models and four SUV models amongst the top 10 PV models. The first three places were all occupied by cars. The best-selling SUV Haval H6 ranked fourth, immediately followed by the CR-V. With a remarkable growth of 30.2%, the Accord jumped to the sixth place. In addition, the Hongguang MINIEV was still the only one with only pure electric vehicles for sale.

Model 3 boasts year-on-year hike of up to 462.3%

The car wholesale volume in China inched up 2.9% from a year earlier to 764 thousand units last month, resulting in 3.151 million units in the sales volume for Jan.-Apr. period.

Among the top 10 car models by April wholesales, there were four models—the Lavida, the Corolla, the Civic, and the Bora—posting year-on-year decrease. The Hongguang MINIEV was the only one from Chinese indigenous brand.

Compared to March 2021, the Sylphy climbed one spot to the champion. The strong sales performance was mainly thanks to the marketing strategy of selling the old and new versions through the same sales channel. Correspondingly, the Lavida dropped to the runner-up place, facing a 12.8% decline year over year.

Model 3; photo credit: Tesla China

With a growth of up to 462.3%, the Model 3 was the fastest-growing one compared to the year-ago performance. Nonetheless, its wholesales in April fell 19.4% from the previous month partly due to the two-week production suspension at Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai.

The BMW 3 Series was the only luxury model and a new entrant on the top 10 car models list.

BMW X3 enters top 10 SUVs list as only luxury model

Automakers in China sold roughly 808,000 SUVs in April, representing a year-over-year growth of 16%. For the first four months, China’s SUV wholesales zoomed up 54.9% to 3.209 million units.

Compared to the previous month, the top 3 SUV models by April wholesales were still the Haval H6, the CR-V, and the CS75, and all scored double-digit year-on-year growth.

BMW X3; photo credit: BMW China

The BYD Song/Song Pro and the BMW X3 were new entrants to the top 10 SUV models list. Notably, the latter was the only luxury product.

Besides, the Tiguan L, the Breeze, and the RAV4 dropped three, two and six spots to the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth places respectively in April. The Breeze posted the biggest growth among the top 10 SUVs.