China's automakers have consolidated their presence on their home turf with
increasing sales despite fierce foreign competition, according to the China
Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
About 982,800 sedans under local brands were sold in 2006, accounting for
25.67 percent of the total sales. The proportion rose by 4.13 percentage points
over that in 2004, CAAM figures reveal.
Jiang Lei, sectary-general and standing vice chairman of the CAAM, called the
growth "hard won" as foreign brands have long been pressing ahead on the sedan
market.
At CAAM's annual meeting held Sunday in Beijing, Jiang attributed the growth
to the rising awareness of local auto makers for better designed automobiles.
A number of posh sedans were rolled out by Chinese auto
makers including Roewe, made by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation,
King Kong by the privately-owned Geely, and Red Flag HQ3 by the First Automobile
Works, China's largest auto maker.
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