China surpasses US in 2009 auto sales

[Mari333]

China overtook the United States as the biggest auto market in 2009 and automakers should see more strong growth this year, an industry group reported Friday.

Boosted by Beijing's stimulus, 2009 passenger car sales soared to 10.3 million and total vehicle sales are estimated at 13.6 million, the China Passenger Car Association said. That represents growth of about 45 percent from 2008.

"This is even better than anyone expected," the group's general secretary, Rao Da, said at a news conference in Shanghai.

By contrast, U.S. sales of cars and light trucks plunged 21 percent in 2009 to 10.4 million as a shaky economy kept buyers away from showrooms. It was the first time any country bought more cars than Americans



http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2010/01/china_surpasses_us_in_2009_aut.html

thats where a lot of US jobs went for slave labour wages. they have the jobs now, they can buy the cars.

[Romulox]

1. Remember when Bill Clinton and Al Gore told us sending our jobs to China would bring democracy?

:rofl:

[Mari333]

2. yep and all it did was send us back poisoned products

and still no jobs.

[Romulox]

3. Very similar to the "they'll greet us with FLOWERS!" propaganda. nt

[Mari333]

4. hmmmm some Wall St CEO seems to be unrec'ing

[StarfarerBill]

6. Just rectified one unrec.

The West might as well face it: this is the Chinese Century, for as long as resources hold out.

[tkmorris]

5. 45%? In one year? Especially last year?

Holy cow, China is booming.

[madrchsod]

7. our money and blood are protecting their oil and natural gas pipe lines.....

[theoldman]

8. I would like to make a correction on this post.

Most Chinese DO NOT work for slave labor wages. The standard of living in China has gone up for about 30 years. That is why they are now living in nice apartments and driving cars. In the US farm workers are the ones working for slave labor wages and living in shacks.

[Romulox]

9. I think you are simply mistaken. Most Chinese cannot afford autos.

The Chinese middle class, though growing, remains an exceedingly small proportion of the overall population. It's just that China's overall population is so large in absolute terms that gives this group so much critical mass.

[FarCenter]

10. If our cars weren't loaded with expensive pollution control and safety features we could afford more