In 2013, the production and sales of commercial vehicles reached 4,031,600 and 4,055,200 units respectively, up 7.6% and 6.4% year on year, turning from decrease to increase. Since reaching its highest level in 2010, the commercial vehicles had experienced negative growth for two successive years. This year recovered to growth.
The sales and production of commercial vehicles basically accorded with historical law, but had typical seasonal characteristics. January and February were in a relatively low level while March rushed into the highest point of the year. Then, month-by-month decline occurred till July to the lowest. Since August, the situation began to recover. Even so, except for February affected by Spring Festival, the other months were all higher than the same period of last year.
Among different types, the production and sales of buses (bus chassis included) were 563,100 and 558,900 units respectively, up 11.2% and 10.2% year on year; and the production and sales of trucks (truck chassis and semi-trailers included) were 3,468,500 and 3,496,300 units respectively, up 7% and 5.8% from the previous year.
The growth of buses was mainly driven by light bus, whose sales accounted for 97.3% of the total sales of buses. Besides, large buses accounted for 4.8%. However, the sales of medium buses were lower than that of last year. As for the truck market, both heavy truck and light truck were higher than last year in sales, thus became the major driving force. Their growth rates enjoyed an increase of 21.7% and 3.6% respectively, accounting for 71.7% and 34.1% of the total sales. On the contrary, the sales of medium and mini trucks were lower than that of last year, decreased by 1.8% and 4.1% respectively.