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Large-tonnage light trucks sell better

By Hao Zhou (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-02-01 10:41

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Although the entire light truck market experienced steady growth last year, the new China III emission standards and changes to the highway-tolls calculating methods boosted an above average boom in the niche market for large-tonnage light trucks.

In the first 11 months of 2007, a total 855,106 light trucks were sold in the Chinese market, up 16.2 percent from the same period a year ago, faster than the growth rate of around 11 percent yearly growth in 2005 and 2006.

Compared with a more than 60 percent increase in the heavy-duty truck market and an average of over 20 percent growth throughout the entire commercial vehicle market, the light truck market was calm.

However, the China III emission standard was implemented nationwide in July last year, and the new highway toll calculating methods furthermore depend on the actual combined weight of vehicles and goods, and no longer on the rated load and vehicles classification. As a result, large-tonnage light trucks seem targeted toward environmental protection and cost-performance demands.

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The full text is available in the January Issue ofAuto China