Strong growth expected in China auto market this year

China’s auto market will likely maintain its momentum this year, fueled by a round of new stimulus measures and demand for cars in smaller cities, Reuters reported, citing industry executives and analysts. The new year should mark a second year of double-digit growth for China after sales expansion rates slumped in 2011 and 2012 to 2.45% and 4.33%, respectively. But in 2013, sales in China rose 13.9% to 21.98 million vehicles, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. In the previous 10 years, auto demand in China often surged 30 to 40% annually.