Beijing plate limit hits independent brand automakers sales most

• Source: globaltimes.cn
• [17:37 February 12 2011]
• Comments

Sales of the nation's independent brand automakers such as Chery and Great Wall saw significant decrease since the implementation of car-plate limit policy in Beijing.

"Nobody is willing to buy cars now – the license is a problem", said Mr. Zhang, a sales manager at a trading market in Asian Games Village in Beijing.  For many days, Zhang and his colleges have to play chess to kill time.

According to a sales person from a 4S store of Great Wall in Asian Games Village, ever since the plate lottery policy has come out, customer visits in his store has reduced greatly. Even those second-hand car dealers and customers from other cities which used to be the biggest buyer of the 4S stores have never shown up. Similar situation also fells upon the shop of Chery, another independent auto brand.

However, the plate limit policy has little influence on the business of foreign luxury automaker Benz. In about half an hour, there were 25 customers visiting the 4S store as most of the customers of Benz are not locals, explained the brand's salesperson. 

Joint venture automakers have already focused their eyes to non-local customers and dealers of second-hand vehicles.

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport has verified the information of 49,000 vehicles, whose owners don't have to get a car license through license plate lottery. Besides, the second-hand car trade policy (customers now can sell old cars in 4S shops and use the money to buy new cars there) has also been carried out. However, it's still not sure whether the capital's auto market can recover.