China 2005 car exports ahead of imports (AFP) Updated: 2006-02-10 22:24
China's auto exports climbed by more than 120 percent
last year to overtake annual imports for the first time.
A man checks out a Chinese-made car during a
car show at the historic Longhua Temple in Shanghai. China's auto exports
climbed by more than 120 percent last year to overtake annual imports for
the first time. [AFP] |
Auto exports totalled 170,000 vehicles in 2005, up 120.5 percent, while
imports rose just eight percent to 160,000, the Beijing Times reported, citing
the Ministry of Commerce.
China-made vehicles were largely trucks -- accounting for over three-quarters
of the total -- with exports of sedans and low-priced small cars also climbing.
Sedans saw the biggest rise in exports, with 30,000 being shipped, up 233
percent over 2004.
Chinese based-companies currently export vehicles mainly to developing
nations in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but also plan to export
to the competitive United States and European markets.
Chery, one of the Chinese groups leading the charge overseas, has signed a
preliminary agreement to manufacture auto parts with Avtotor of Russia, the
Xinhua news agency reported Friday.
The report, which provided no financial details, cited an unnamed manager at
Chery saying that the group, based in China's eastern Anhui province, was keen
to build production bases in Russia, Romania and Poland.
Avtotor already assembles South Korea's Kia cars, BMWs and General Motors'
Chevrolet, Cadillac and Hummer jeep brands.
Chery and the Russian group were also mulling a separate plant involving an
investment of 200 million dollars, the report said.
Under a commitment to the World Trade Organization, China will remove tariffs
on auto imports by the end of 2006, when already fierce competition promises to
heat up even more.
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