China's sedan exports more than doubled year-on-year to 188,600
units in 2007, according to figures from the General Administration
of Customs.
The country's auto imports and exports reached US$66.9 billion
last year, with imports up 24.45 percent and exports up 45.31
percent.
Chery, the flag-bearer of Chinese indigenous brands, saw a 132
percent surge of export in 2007, which came at 119,800 units. The
carmaker, which has accelerated its expansion overseas in recent
years, expected to export 180,000 this year.
Changan Automotive Group, China's fourth largest automaker, sold
more than 40,000 cars overseas last year, against 21,700 in
2006.
The country's auto output grew 22.9 percent to 9.04 million
units last year, according to figures with the National Development
and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic
planner.
The NDRC deputy economic performance department director Zhu
Hongren said, since quantity was not a problem anymore, auto
producers should increase their focus on quality.
Compared with their international counterparts, China's auto
makers are still small in terms of production scale and behind in
technology. In addition, the country's auto boom has created
growing problems, such as increasing traffic jams and
pollution.
China imported 314,200 vehicles in 2007, an increase of 41.4
percent, with imports of sedans up 25.13 percent, cross-country
vehicles up 64.91 percent and minibuses down 5.29 percent.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2008)
