Models gear up car sales
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Much room to grow
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Model poses at Auto Shanghai 2011, the 14th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, which opens in the city's new International Expo Center from April 19-28. |
The boom in car modeling rides the surge in China's automotive sector. In 2009, China overtook the United States as the world's biggest auto market. Vehicle sales hit a record 13.64 million units, jumping from 9.38 million sold in 2008, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The nation secured the top spot again in 2010, with 18.06 million vehicles sold.
The ratio of car ownership in China is still low - 50 cars for every 1,000 people, compared with a world average of 160 and a US ratio of 860 - but that translates into great growth potential. As a result, domestic and foreign carmakers are rushing to introduce their latest models to the Chinese market, which inflates the demand for car models.
At the Shanghai auto show, which opened on Tuesday, more than 2,000 car and parts makers from 20 countries are premiering 75 model vehicles and displaying 1,100, making it one of the biggest auto shows worldwide.
Huang Shaohua, a senior editor with the auto channel of news portal NetEase.com Inc, described the number of auto shows in China as "explosive". He said there are 10 major auto shows nationwide and numerous smaller ones. Even some auto websites organize their own shows, he said.
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