The exhibition also offers 60,000 square meters for auto parts. For the first time, the auto china show is displaying PV, CV, auto part and after-market products in a single exhibition. 1,800 auto parts makers including well-known brands such as Botch, Michelin and Alpine are displaying their latest products and technology.
Just like international car makers, Chinese auto manufacturers are also taking the opportunities to show off their top-of-the-line models. With homegrown crossover, SUV, MPV and concept car versions now in display, Chinese brands are responding to foreign challenges.
Geely is showcasing its first sport utility vehicle, the NL-1, as well as the GC-1 mid-sized sedan, in a departure from the no-frills, entry-level cars they are best known for. The car maker plans to develop more than 40 models using 15 vehicle platforms by 2015.
Frank Zhao, Vice President of Geely said "It's very positive you know, it's going to be double digits that's for sure. Whether it's 19 percent or 27 percent it is really hard to say. Why? Because the Chinese market is different from other markets. Because the average income of the majority of people is very similar that tells you when one guy is ready to buy a car then almost 1.2 billion people are ready to buy a car. That really something quite different from other markets."
The new trend is also suggested. A doubling of crude oil prices in the past couple of years has sparked a worldwide shift towards smaller, fuel-saving cars - a phenomenon that China is also embracing. Pollution in cities adds needs for clean vehicles.
Pivos2 is an innovation of Nissan. It is driven not by gasoline, but by a high volume compact lithium-ion battery. With compact and high output electricity technology, it is said to be both environmentally friendly and flexible. The cabin can rotate three hundred and sixty degrees, and can also move sideways.
Wu Weiren, Manager of Brand Promotion of Nissan said "As the issues of energy, carbon dioxide emissions and environmental protection arouse more attention, China should also develop in large scale eco-friendly cars. We hope to introduce this kind of cars, and especially practical models to china market in the future."
After reaching nearly 8.8 million vehicles last year, the Chinese auto market is seen growing to 10 million units this year. Double-digit growth is expected to continue at least over the next five years, exceeding projected economic growth of 7-8 percent over the same period.
China's auto market has grown by between 20 to 30 percent over the past five years, a period of explosive growth. The frenzy of the auto show this year seems agree with what analysts say -- China is on the track to overtake the United States as the largest market for cars and trunks.
(CCTV April 29, 2008)