Jilin plans to produce 1 mln vehicles in '09

Shanghai, February 26 (Gasgoo.com) Northeastern China's Jilin province, home to Chinese auto giant FAW Group, has announced a series of auto industry goals for this year, including its plans to produce 1 million vehicles, to achieve auto sales revenue of 240 billion yuan ($35.1 billion) and total profits of 14 billion yuan, xinhuanet.com reported today.

In its effort to reach the target of making 1 million vehicles in 2009, Jilin province will issue favorable policies to support the development of FAW Group, said the auto industry office of the province. Some policies will work together with the auto industry restructuring plans recently released by the central government, which would encourage auto giants SAIC and FAW to expand through mergers.

In addition, Jilin province will take measures to boost vehicle output and sales this year by speeding up the development of 100 major auto-related companies and 100 major auto projects. More than half of the 100 auto and auto-parts projects are expected to start operation and deliver products to the market this year.

The list of its auto development projects in 2009 shows that this year Jilin province will promote the production of the Corolla sedan model at newly built Changchun FAW Fengyue Auto Co., the upgrades of FAW-VW joint venture's first factory, the expansion of FAW Car Co.'s Besturn sedan series, the production of FAW Jilin Car Co.'s small cars and mini-cars.

Jilin province will also support auto-parts projects, such as FAW VW's EA111 engine, Qiming auto electronics, Dongguang clutch and brake assembly, Xuyang sedan chair assembly.

Auto industry is the mainstay industry of Jilin province. Its capital city Changchun now has about 320 auto and auto-parts manufacturers. With an annual output capacity of 1.8 million units scheduled for the next five years, Jilin province will possibly become China's largest auto production base by 2014.