China's car exports soared dramatically this year, with the exports totaling 18,988 units in the first three quarters, up 174 percent year-on-year, latest statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed.

The cars exported valued at US$152.3 million, the customs said.

During the January-September period, China exported a total of 650,000units of vehicles valued at US$1.33 billion, including 1,282 units of cross-country vehicles and 368,000 units of small passenger cars, which accounted for 70.1 percent of the total.

The exports of large and medium-sized passenger cars and trucks came to 4,546 units and 73,569 units, a year-on-year increase of 41 percent and 128 percent respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2005)