Dongfeng-Nissan’s New Car Sales Up 20% YoY in First Half

Taipei, July 17, 2012 (CENS)--Yulon Nissan Motor Co., a joint venture between Taiwan's Yulon Group and Nissan Motor of Japan, recently said its affiliate Dongfeng-Nissan Passenger Vehicle Co., a major passenger-car maker in China, sold more than 450,000 new cars in the first half, up over 20% YoY.

Dongfeng-Nissan began promoting its own Venucia line in April this year to see continued 20%-plus month-on-month (MoM) sales growth in the past three months, with institutional investors estimating the Chinese automaker to sell over one million new cars (Nissans and Venucias) this year.

Smooth sales of new cars by Dongfeng-Nissan generated ample ROI for Yulon Nissan in the first half, whose net earnings per share (EPS) for the first half is an estimated NT$7.5-plus (US$0.25).

Statistics compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) show that Dongfeng-Nissan sold more than 80,000 new Nissans in June in China, up 16% YoY, and 368,416 units in the first five months, as well as 3,000 Venucias in April, 4,000 and 5,000 in May and June, respectively.

Industry sources say that own-brand car sales in China, though lagging that of international brands, still maintain certain advantages, and that such own-branded sales exceed that of counterparts in China, reflecting higher perceived qualitative image that should continue to boost sales.

Yulon's other subsidiary, Dongfeng Yulon Motor Co., Ltd., locally assembles, sells Luxgens developed by Yulon in Taiwan, and plans to widen product line by launching entry-level cars after gaining solid foothold in the mid-priced segment in China.