Great Wall sales jump 22% in October on crossover demand

October deliveries of Great Wall Motor Co. rose 22 percent year on year to 86,991 vehicles thanks to strong demand for crossovers and the government's tax break for small vehicles.The Haval H6 generated sales of 40,545, up nearly 37 percent from a year earlier. Sales of the Haval H2 surged 56 percent to 18,792 vehicles.Both crossovers benefited from the central government's decision to halve the 10 percent purchase tax for vehicles with engine displacements of 1.6 liters and smaller.The Haval H6 is fitted with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine as well as 2.0- and 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engines. The Haval H2 is fitted with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine.Last month, Great Wall's sales of crossovers and SUVs surged 36 percent to 72,343 vehicles.But pickup and sedan sales remained weak. Last month, Great Wall's pickup deliveries dropped 9.7 percent to 8,491 vehicles, while sedan sales slumped nearly 29 percent to 6,157 vehicles.Through October, Great Wall's total vehicle sales increased nearly 19 percent year on year to 682,215 vehicles on demand for its crossover models.Great Wall, headquartered in the north China city of Baoding, is China's largest maker of SUVs and crossovers. The Haval H6 has long been China's top-selling crossover.