Shanghai (ZXZC)- SAIC Motor said its vehicle sales reached 515,804 units last month, dropping 14.36% compared to the previous year. As of Sept. 2021, the Shanghai-based auto giant had posted year-on-year sales decline for the fifth month in a row.

SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) still ranked highest among subsidiaries in terms of Sept. sales. The company scored a 6.74% increase in year-to-date sales despite four straight months of year-over-year decrease.

Two major joint ventures—SAIC Volkswagen and SAIC-GM—logged year-on-year dip in both Sept. and Jan.-Sept. sales.

In spite of the decrease in overall sales, SAIC Motor still boasted robust growth for new energy vehicle (NEV) business. Last month, the group's NEV wholesales amounted to 64,233 units, leaping 61.3% over a year earlier. As for deliveries, SAIC Motor handed over about 70,000 NEVs to consumers in Sept., representing a 145% hike.

MG eHS; photo credit: MG

The combined NEV sales of SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle Co.,Ltd., the group's self-owned passenger vehicle subsidiary owning three brands (Roewe, MG, and R Auto), surpassed 17,000 units in Sept., shooting up 186.6% from the previous year. Notably, the total sales of such mid-/high-end NEV models as the MG eHS, the MG ZS EV, the Roewe Ei5, and the Roewe ER6 exceeded 10,000 units.

Thanks to the strong demands of the ID. series, SAIC Volkswagen's NEV sales topped 7,000 units last month, zooming up 169.8% over a year ago.

In overseas markets, SAIC Motor sold around 442,000 vehicles during the first three quarters, which were more than the full-year volume of 2020. About 72,000 vehicles were sold outside China last month, representing a 70.7% year-on-year upward movement.