Chery Auto exports 115,000 vehicles in Jan-Sept

Shanghai, November 6 (Gasgoo.com) By September 30, Chery Auto had exported 115,000 vehicles to overseas markets this year, close to the whole-year exports of 119,800 units it achieved in 2007, reported Information Times today.

According to the statistics of China's commerce ministry, Chery Auto contributed nearly 50% to the country's vehicle exports in the first nine months this year and has become the No. 1 exporter of passenger vehicles in China.

In 2001, Chery began exporting its vehicles to Syria, becoming China's first car exporter and then the biggest exporter of Chinese-made vehicles for six years. Its increasing exports are attributed to several channels of global cooperation, said a PR executive of the fourth largest Chinese carmaker. In contrast with foreign-majority joint ventures, Chery has dominated its partnership with global companies.

In Chery's vehicle lineup for export, the compact Tiggo SUV, Eastar convertible and Chery A5 model have gained an increasing proportion and have exceeded 50% of the company’s exports. Chery has seen its exports more than doubled for three straight years.

Chery Auto is expected to export 180,000 vehicles this year, though the current global financial crisis and the Chinese auto market slump might compromise this target. Many Chinese car companies are finding it hard to achieve their export goals for 2008, a year with its fourth quarter heavily hit by the economic slowdown.