In 2005, China produced 17.77 million motorcycles and sold 17.75 million of them, up 6.75 percent and 6.52 percent over the previous year, according to figures from the Market Construction Department of the Ministry of Commerce.

However the growth rates of motorcycle production and sales were around 10 percent lower from 2004.

Of the total, China produced 17.24 million two-wheel motorcycles and sold 17.2 million of them in 2005, up 7.54 percent and 7.35 percent over the previous year.

Meanwhile, China also produced 530,300 three-wheelers and sold 528,000 of them, down 13.83 percent and 14.92 percent.

In December 2005 alone, China produced 1.95 million motorcycles and sold 1.94 million, up 22.71 percent and 17.95 percent over the previous year.

(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2006)