2009 Yinchuan Int'l Auto Expo kicks off in NW China

The world's top automakers and joint ventures in China are showing some 100 types of automobiles in an expo in Yinchuan, northwestern China. They found the local market is very hot, despite the financial crisis.

The 2009 Yinchuan International Auto Expo kicked off in the capital city of the Ninxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Saturday, attracting some 10,000 visitors.

Brands put on show include Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Cadillac, Lexus, BYD, Camry, Citroen etc.

Soundbite: Hu Fangsheng, Yinchuan citizen "I come here to have a look and I have many opportunities to choose my favorite car here."

The exhibition covers an area of 45,000 square meters and is known as the largest expo in Ningxia ever.

Soundbite: Yu Xiaolong, Vice President of the 2009 Yinchuan Int'l Auto Expo Organizing Committee "The auto market in Ningxia, especially Yinchuan is very hot and with huge potential. Many people here are enthusiastic auto-buyers, whose purchasing power is beyond our expectation. We have some 20 new types of vehicles launched in Ningxia for the first time during the expo, and this will be very attractive for the visitors."

SOUNDBITE: Xie Jinyong, Manager of the BYD Auto Group, Ningxia branch "We've sold 8 cars in two hours, and another 8 have been booked, including F3, F6 and F0. We are confident that we'll make a sales record this time."

The expo ends on August 9.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Yinchuan.