Analysis of China Bus Market's Four Features in the First Five Months of 2012 I

　
www.chinabuses.org:

Feature one: Month-to-month sales growth of China bus has been narrow
 
According to the research center data from www.chinabuses.com, it is seen that, in Jan.- May 2012, China sells 90,543 units of bus & coach products, which rises 9.7 percent higher from the same period of last year. Compared to the same period of last year, the sales of the bus products still keeps a steady growth trend.

Among the sales data of China bus products, the sales volume of the city bus rises 4.89 percent; The sales volume of the inter-city bus declines 4.17 percent. The sales  of the school bus market and others bus markets grow rather fast. Besides, the sales of the school buses and the city-buses become two main force for the China bus industry development.

Table One: Sales statistics of China bus & coach products in the first five months of 2012

Chart One: Sales statistics of China bus & coach products in the first five months of 2012
 

In general speaking, the sales growth of the China bus market keeps a steady trend. However, from the sales volume on each months in 2012, the sales growth of China bus industry becomes narrow, which is not a good situation. Due to the macro-environment of the bus industry and the transportation industry, it is estimated that in the fist three quarters of 2012 or even in the second half year of2012, the sales growth of China bus products may be lower.
　

Feature Two: The sales of the large buses become main growth force for China bus market　

In the first five months of 2012, the sales of the large buses is till in increasing. Among the large bus products,the sales volume of the large seat buses are 1,5370 units with 8.44 percent of year-on-year growth; The sales volume of the large city buses are 12,978 units with 17.37 percent of year-on-year growth. From the collected data, it is seen that the sales volume of the 11m-12m long large bus products is the highest one, which become the main growth force for the large bus industry in Jan.-May 2012. The inter-city buses and city buses that are into use now intend to be large bus products.

Besides, it is also seen that except for 11m-12m long bus products, the year-on-year sales growth of other lengths' bus products nearly keep steady or a litter. Among the different lengths' bus products, the sales growth of 5m-8m long seat bus products is in the negative growth, which declines 20.33 percent compared to the same period of last year. The sales growth of 5m-8m long city bus products declines 22.31 percent compared to last year. Due to the increasing of cars per household in rural areas and the extending of the city bus lines, they are all the restricted factors for the rural seat bus market.

Chart Two: Sales data of bus products in different lengths in Jan.-May 2012　　

From above data, it is seen that

The sales of bus products below 6 meters long become a main force for the bus market. The small buses-- below 6 meters long are now becoming a attractive market for the mainstream bus builders. However, as there are already so many bus builders who are manufacturing the small bus products, so the pressure of competition in the small bus market becomes fierce.

For the bus products above 12 meters long, they are mainly the BRT, the exported bus models and parts of the inter-city bus products. Due to the fast speed of the railways and limited development of the BRT in the big cities, the sales of the bus products above 12 meters long will still ranks the last among the bus industry.