Chinese Backlash Against Japan a Boon for GM, Ford

Cars and Drivers

Published: November 5, 2012 8:50 am

Last Updated: November 5, 2012 8:58 am

As Chinese consumers shunned Japanese goods due to a territorial dispute between the two countries, U.S. automakers General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) benefited from the consumer backlash against the likes of Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) and Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC).

GM said deliveries of its cars and minivans to the world’s largest auto market rose 14% to 251,812 units in October. Cadillac increased deliveries 20%, Chevrolet gained 8.3% and Buick sales rose 7.7%

Ford said it sold 60,518 vehicles in China last month, or 48% more than a year earlier, according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek. The Dearborn, Michigan-based company also said it sold 33,614 Focus compact cars there in October.

However, Toyota’s sales in China fell 44% last month, following a 49% decline in September. Honda and Nissan also reported their worst monthly drops in years.

GM said it plans to invest as much as $7 billion in China in the five years to 2015. And Ford plans to introduce two new sport-utility vehicle models, the Kuga and the EcoSport, in People’s Republic in the next few months.

Shares of GM and Ford are up fractionally in premarket trading.

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