The light-duty truck market starts flat this year and the sales from January to February are dull.

Recently, sales of light trucks were released in January-February. Fukuda topped the list with 61,687 units, JAC light trucks ranked second with 37,922 units, and Dongfeng followed with 34,493 units. In addition, Jiangling sold 23,324 units, Gold Cup sold 21,065 units, and Nanjing Automobile Group Co., Ltd. sold 12,765 units.

In January-February, the sales volume was flat. In recent years, due to factors such as economic revitalization, automobile industry concessions, fuel tax reform, and other factors, light truck sales have gradually increased. In 2010, the sales volume of light trucks reached 1.5998 million units, an increase of 26.13% over 2009. Almost all light truck companies' performance has increased significantly and exceeded their targets. However, in January 2011, the production and sales volume of light trucks nationwide was 180,700 units and 168,000 units, an increase of 3.29% and 3.90% year-on-year, and the market conditions were generally low. At the same time, in January, sales of light trucks accounted for 52% of total truck sales, but fell 5% year-on-year.

"Since the implementation of the 'car to the countryside' policy, light trucks have achieved better sales in Hebei Xingtai, Handan, Luzhou, Shijiazhuang and other places, and Bazhou has a relatively modest sales volume. In terms of product type, alternative agricultural vehicle products are selling well. Kama and Tang Jun-Europe accounted for 80% to 90% of the market share. From January to February, we sold more than 60 light trucks, a year-on-year decrease of 30% to 40%.” Mr. Zhang, a light-card dealer in Hebei, told “Commercial Automotive News reporter.

Multi-factor pulls down the growth rate of light trucks In 2011, the light-duty start of the light truck market was closely related to the delisting of some policies.

In 2009, the government introduced a policy of stimulating consumption in China's rural markets. Among them, the “car to the countryside” policy has a huge impact, spurring farmers’ enthusiasm for buying cars, and the sales of rural light trucks are booming, especially economical light trucks. On December 31, 2010, the Ministry of Finance announced the official conclusion of the "automobile going to the countryside" and the vehicle replacement policy.

"The end of the 'car to the countryside' policy has brought about a certain impact on light truck sales," said a light truck dealer in Changchun.

In 2011, the pressure faced by light truck companies, in addition to the exit of preferential policies such as “cars going to the countryside”, there were high levels of raw material prices and labor costs. In addition, the ever-increasing production capacity of the light-duty truck industry has also made competition among companies more intense. In 2011, Shenyang Automobile City will invest 1.6 billion yuan to build the Jinbei light truck project to produce light and medium-duty trucks and heavy trucks. At present, the project has completed preliminary planning and site selection. According to FAW Group's announcement, the first trial production vehicle of FAW-GM's Harbin Light Company was formally rolled out in the new plant recently, marking that the new plant of HaGuang has basically had production start-up capability, and will begin mass production of light trucks in May.

Although there are many unfavorable factors in the expectation of the light truck market, it does not mean that the light truck market has no potential to tap.

“In 2011, the cancellation of the “automobile to the countryside” policy will have a lower impact on the light truck market than on the mini-vehicle market because light trucks’ production data attributes will be higher than that of mini-vehicles. Farmers’ purchase of light trucks is mainly used for short-haul transportation. The main purpose of making money from goods is to buy light trucks, mainly based on the original agricultural vehicle users,” said an industry analyst.

With the introduction of fuel tax, cancellation of road maintenance fees and rising oil prices, users are paying more attention to the fuel economy of light trucks. In addition, the medium and low-end light trucks have been the main selling products of the domestic light truck industry for a long period of time, especially during the implementation period of the “car to the countryside” policy. In 2011, the preferential policies for automobiles were terminated, and the higher requirements for emission control standards were about to be implemented, all of which forced the development of light trucks to mid-to-high end. In order to adapt to this new situation, in recent years, major domestic light truck manufacturers have also launched upgrading products to meet higher market demand.

“For manufacturers, they can also work in the field of special vehicles. Now that the users have high requirements for products, the proportion of special vehicle sales is increasing. For dealers, it is necessary to intensively cultivate the market and make the sales network fine. At the same time, it is also necessary to do after-sales service." Mr. Zhang introduced the "Commercial Automotive News" reporter.