In the first half of this year, the Chinese auto maker Chery Automotive Co. (CAC), based in east China's Anhui Province, exported 3,419 cars, up 130 percent year on year, the Economic Daily newspaper quoted a source from Chinese customs as saying on Thursday.

During the period, the export volume of the Chery Company, leading the country's car makers in exports, reached US$17.16 million, up 120 percent year on year and accounting for 66.5 percent of China's total car export volume, according to the newspaper.

The Chery Company mainly exports its cars to developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Syria is the largest foreign buyer of the Chery-series cars. It imported 1,591 cars during the first half of 2005.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2005)