Chinese automakers unveiled 89 new auto models in H1

Shanghai, July 2 (Gasgoo.com) Chinese automakers have launched 89 new auto models during the first half of 2009, marking a new record for China's auto industry, Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, citing an industry official.

"Eighty nine models in six months, that is to say one model for every two days, which is unprecedented," said Zhu Yiping, assistant secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

"The new models include 73 car models, nine SUV models, six MPV models and one crossover model, " told Zhu. Among the 73 car models, only about ten are all-new models while the remainders are modifications. And only two of the nine SUV models are completely new models."

He predicted that domestic makers would unveil more than 50 new models in the latter half of this year.

The unprecedented launching has significantly bolstered auto demand. Sales of China's domestically-made automobiles topped 4.96 million units in the January-May period, up 14.29 percent from a year earlier, according to CAAM data.