Beijing: China, aiming to be a global player
in the automobile industry, has crossed another milestone by
becoming the third country in the world after the United
States and Japan to boast an annual output of over 10 million
units, the state media reported today.
China's annual auto production surpassed 10 million for
the first time as a new "Liberation" model truck rolled off
the assembly line yesterday at state-owned First Automobile
Works in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin
Province.
Previously only Japan and the US have exceeded 10
million vehicles in annual output.
While auto output in both the US and Japan has geared
down this year due to the global economic slowdown, in China,
the industry is booming, 'China Daily' reported.
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM)
has predicted that China will produce more than 12 million
vehicles in 2009, up from 9.35 million last year. Auto sales
in China surged by 34.24 per cent year-on-year to 9.66 million
units in the first nine months, CAAM said.
China became the world's largest car market in January
when sales outstripped the United States for the first time.
Miao Wei, vice-minister of Industry and Information
Technology, said the production of 10 million vehicles means
China is becoming a global player in the auto industry.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 17:20