The newly-released semi-annual reports show that self-independent brands keep high growths in the first half of year, with Geely, SAIC and Chery all growing more than 50%. In contrast, joint-venture brands face general sales declines. German brands, European brands, American brands and Korean brands all show declining sales volume. Beijing Hyundai has the largest decline of 42.4%.
[Self-independent brands are a threat to joint-venture companies." Cui Dongshu, General Secretary of CPCA told media.
The growths of self-independent brands are mainly brought by SUV, with self-independent SUV sales volume accounting for 60% of the total. The sales declines of joint-venture companies are also resulted by the invasion of self-independent brands in A-class and A0-class car markets.
[More and more independent brands are launching SUV models with prices ranging RMB 70,000 to 150,000. Their fashionable images, spacious room and upgrading performances are persuading customers to give up A-class and A0-class cars and turn to self-independent brands instead." Cui said.
Besides, the relatively high prices for joint-venture SUV models also leave room for self-independent brands` developments. [In the short term, joint-venture brands would not cut prices to compete with self-independent brands. Self-independent brands would continue to keep strengths."
But cars continue to be the weak points of self-independent brands. Cui believes that, self-independent brands would make breakthroughs in alternative energy car markets, rather than the traditional car markets, which would pave a road for self-independent brands to seize the car market.