Chinese annual car production has topped 10 million for the first time. The 10 millionth car produced this year rolled off the First Automobile Works Group assembly line in Changchun. In September sales soared 78% compared to a year ago, totalling 1.33 million units.
Sales are expected to reach 12 million this year. Despite the downturn and falling sales at most global carmakers, demand for cars in China is booming.
State incentives, such as tax cuts on small cars, have boosted sales. Like many other governments around the world, China has also introduced subsidies to trade in older vehicles.
Previously, only the US and Japan had produced 10 million cars in a single year.
Domestic Chinese car sales overtook those in the US for the first time in December of last year, and this trend has continued.
Mercopress reports that Kevin Wale, Beijing head of General Motors, said it may sell more than 1.6 million vehicles in China this year. That means 40% year-on-year growth. It sold 1.09 million vehicles in China in 2008.