BEIJING, May 13 ― The lifting of coronavirus lockdowns in China has given the stuttering auto industry a jumpstart, with sales rising for the first time in two years as buyers return as the health crisis eases. Sales in the world's biggest car market began to slide in 2018 and plunged further...
Sales in the world's biggest car market have rebounded as the country tames the virus and lifts restrictions on travel and businesses. — Reuters pic
Sales rose 4.4 per cent year-on-year in April, the latest figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show, driven by strong demand for commercial vehicles, which soared more than 30 per cent. The auto industry is a crucial one for China and among those that have been supported by state measures.
“In recent months, business has been difficult because people have stayed at home,” said Zhang Fengkai, a sales employee at a dealership for Japanese brand Mazda in Beijing.Some industry players believe the pandemic, which has killed more than 286,000 people worldwide, may be nudging consumers towards private vehicle ownership as they seek to avoid infections on public transport.
In a commentary published last week, he said the company has “seen interest from a new kind of customer, those keen to own a personal vehicle to escape the risks of infection on public transport”.
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