China's auto output may hit record 9 mln this year--expert

Shanghai. September 10 (Gasgoo.com)--China's auto production and sales for 2007 may top a record 9 million units, an auto expert said.

China’s total automobile output and sales may reach 9 million vehicles in 2007, much higher than the projected 8.5 million units, accordingn to Zhang Xiaoyu, vice chairmen of China Machinery Industry Federation and president of Society of Automotive Engineers of China (SAE China).

Since 2001, China’s auto industry has been growing by 26% annually , Zhang told an annual symposium hosted by Society of Automotive Engineering of China in Tianjin last Friday.

During the first half of this year, China manufactured 4,456,700 and sold 4,373,800 vehicles, up 22.36% and 23.31% year on year respectively, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

Last year, China's auto output and sales rose above 7.2 million units, making China world's second largest auto market following the United States.

The U.S. is the only nation with the auto sales exceeding 10 million units. During the past five years, there are 15 million vehicles traded in the American auto market every year.