China 2020 car sales to plunge 8% amid virus, auto group says

China’s car sales are set to fall 8% this year, an auto-industry group said, slashing its forecast for a second time as the coronavirus keeps buyers away.

The prediction given by China Passenger Car Association on Monday signals the world’s largest market is set to shrink for a third straight year. The PCA last month predicted a 5% decline after initially forecasting 1% growth at the end of last year.

The outlook is darkening for automakers from market leader Volkswagen AG and Tesla Inc. to smaller local contenders that were already battling an unprecedented slump before the outbreak. PCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu has called for nationwide stimulus policies to help revive demand.

The outbreak has paralyzed China’s auto industry just as it was looking to gradually halt a two-year decline, with manufacturers now left with little visibility into when sales might recover. Automakers have poured billions of dollars into the market in a bet on its growth potential.

PCA’s forecast suggests the group expects a recovery in demand as the year progresses. Car sales fell 79% in February, the biggest monthly plunge ever, PCA said, slightly revising initial numbers given last week. Honda Motor Co.‘s China sales fell 85% last month, while Nissan Motor Co. reported an 80% decline.

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Tian Ying in Beijing at ytian@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Young-Sam Cho at ycho2@bloomberg.net, Ville Heiskanen, Dave McCombs

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