Certainly China's auto slowdown is not anywhere near as drastic as the U.S. market's nosedive.

Measured by year-to-date sales, the market still grew 16.7 percent in the first seven months, according to the China Automotive Industry Association. Commercial vehicles grew 18.8 percent, slightly better than passenger cars at 15.8 percent.

But given that more than 100 companies manufacture finished vehicles in China, plus imported cars, competition is fierce. Therefore, the overall market shift may take a bigger toll on some car makers than others.

Ford's affiliated firm, Mazda Motor Corp.. has cut its sales forecast in the country for the fiscal year ending March 2009 from 110,000 to below 60,000. The Wall Street Journal quoted Mazda as saying that a delay of sales network expansion is one of the reasons.

Toyota's Shanghai joint venture FAW Toyota Motor Co. remains positive about reaching its 420,000-unit sales goal in China in 2008. That's according to Shanghai Securities. With another joint-venture factory in Guangzhou, Toyota expected to sell 700,000 cars in China this year. But the Japanese maker scaled back its global sales target last month.