China's automobile market showed an unexpected strong momentum with double-digit growth in the first half of the year, making it likely that total sales in the world's largest vehicle market will exceed the 20-million unit barrier for the whole year.

However, Chinese automakers are facing challenges because of slowing exports, as well as increased competition from foreign rivals, which may result in production cuts, analysts said.

The latest figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed that in the first six months, China's total automobile production and sales both exceeded the 10-million unit barrier for the first time ever, with a year-on-year growth of more than 12 percent, outstripping the association's previous expectations.