China's auto market is growing fast nowadays. With an annual rise of over 20 percent, the world's third-largest vehicle maker has a huge purchasing power. Almost all the international automakers come for gold rush, launching new models and lifting the production, however, not all of the highly-expected models sell well.

As the automakers enforce their production mix, a total of 34 new models hit the market during the first half of this year, of which 21 are revamped from the old ones. But just a few of these turned to hot cakes. Here Gasgoo will list the Top10 sluggish new models covering the past six months.

Honda's Acura TL

Last Sep., Honda's most luxury model was introduced into China after big success in America. Acura TL, as Honda's main force in China, sold less than 200 units during H1. Acura encountered a Waterloo for the unsuccessful marketing strategy.

The distributor offered a price-cut last month. Acura TL's advanced equipments like the intelligent key, navigation service were applied only on the demand of  customers who would pay the bill. In contrast, most imported premier cars are readily equipped, so it's no wonder that Acura TL faced such a low sales result.

Mitsubishi Galant

Galant was released in China last Nov., but its sales were declining during the first half of year. The half-year result for Galant is 4062 units, not even half of Toyota Camry's monthly sales, though both models belonging to the same D-segment.

Initially the 2.4L version was priced at RMB199, 800 to 219,800, giving Galant a price advantage competing with Accord and Camry, but as price-cuts of Accord, Mondeo and Sonata went further, and lack of brand charisma came out, Galant's future in China gloomed.

Fiat Perla

Fiat Perla went on sale last Sep., which is developed by Fiat and its Chinese joint venture partner. The Italian automaker chose China as an all-new model's debut place for the first time, and this model was Perla. Although this sedan has an exclusive 1.7-liter engine and a Europe-developed chassis, Perla has half-year sales of roughly two thousand units.

Perla was nicknamed as "car of revival" for the loss-making Nanjing Fiat Automobile, but for its resemblance with Fiat Siena, which is RMB20, 000 cheaper than Perla, customers feel reluctance to buy this new car. Currently Perla has monthly sales of only 300 units, well below the company's expectation.

Kia Rio

The new Kia Rio's performance fell short in spite of several price-cuts. The automaker, Dongfeng Kia, eyed to sell more than 5000 units per month, and considered the model as its bread and butter, but since it's launch early this year, Rio only sold out 4996 units up to now.

 The old-generation Dongfeng KIA Rio could never be outperformed by the current new one.

FAW Vitz

Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co sold 904 units of Vitz during the first half of year.

Since Toyota announced its plan to put the new Yaris into production next year, Vitz, which actually are the same model, is on a threat. Under the fierce competition from Polo, Fit and Porche 206, Vitz's sales are declining since the introduction in late 2002. The automaker lowered prices for the third time this Jun. on its Vizi cars and planned to redesign it, but analysts say that Vitz has slim chances of a rebirth.

By Joanne   From:www.gasgoo.com