Sales of passenger vehicles in China will grow 8 percent this year to 22.96 million units, predicts LMC Automotive in a forecast that assumes China's sluggish economy won't slide into a full-scale recession.

 

Sales of light commercial vehicles will rise 4 percent this year to 3.78 million units, the suburban Detroit consultancy predicts. Over the past year or so, the commercial truck market has been relatively stagnant compared with passenger vehicles.

 

China's hottest vehicles are expected to remain SUVs and crossovers. Last year, sales of locally produced crossovers jumped 51 percent, while multipurpose vehicle deliveries rose 16 percent. By contrast, sales of sedans and hatchbacks declined 5.4 percent.

 

Chinese automakers are in a good position to benefit from rising crossover sales. Last year, sales of crossovers by Chinese brands soared 77 percent. Said LMC: "Indeed, this vehicle type has become the main driver of growth for China's carmakers."