Locals favor sports utility vehicles
26/6/2003 15:30
Shanghai residents have turned their attention to sports utility vehicles
(SUVs) when purchasing cars, with SUV sales soaring in the local market, the
Shanghai Morning Post reported today.
Low-priced SUVs are proving very
popular in the city.
Beijing Jeep Co Ltd launched its Jeep 2500 two-wheel
drive model at the beginning of the month, priced at 119,000 yuan (US$14,000),
with market demand exceeding supply in the local market.
"Customers who
booked the Jeep 2500 now have to wait until mid August to get the car, with some
car dealers even asking for up to 2,000 yuan in emergency fees," according to
several local Beijing Jeep dealerships.
High-end SUVs are selling well in
the city, including Toyota, Mitsubishi and Grand Cherokee, with local buyers
preferring to take them on trips to suburban areas.
Males aged between 25
and 40 are the main buyers of SUVs, according to local car dealers.
Car
manufacturers are busy offering new SUV models, with more than 30 new models
expected to hit the market this year.
However, good road surface
conditions in Shanghai have made it difficult to promote SUVs in the city, said
an industry analyst.
Zhengzhou Nissan's Paladin SUV models sell better in
Northeast China, Beijing, Xinjiang and Yunnan Province than in Shanghai, said Xu
Bin, spokesman with Zhengzhou Nissan's Shanghai office.
Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news
|
