Beijing (ZXZC)- In January 2023, Chinese automaker Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. (Changan Automobile) posted a double-digit decline in sales compared to a year ago, according to the company’s report released on February 10. 

In past month, Changan Automobile sold 171,805 vehicles, representing a 38.03% drop year-over-year. The downturn in January sales should be considered universal across the industry in China, partly due to the Chinese New Year holidays, which left not enough workdays for carmakers and consumers for trade.

Photo credit: Changan Shenlan

In the first month of 2023, auto sales of the Changan Automobile’s wholly-owned brands summed up to 146,268 vehicles, falling 35.28% from a year ago and accounting for 85.14% of the automaker’s overall sales. Among which, 17,915 vehicles were sold in overseas markets to reflect a 24.8% decline from a year earlier. 

Additionally, sales of passenger vehicles under Changan Automobile’s self-owned brands amounted to 124,664 units, down 21.41% year-on-year. 

In January, Changan Automobile’s wholly-owned brands sold 28,031 new energy vehicles (NEVs), which zoomed up 106.11% from a year earlier. The company’s NEV-dedicated brand, Shenlan, delivered 6,137 units of its only production model, SL03 sedan, last month. 

Additionally, Changan Ford and Changan Mazda, the automaker’s two joint ventures, sold a respective 15,026 vehicles and 4,024 vehicles in January, which plunged 39.54% and 79.77% compared to the previous year.