There may well be many raised eyebrows as visitors to the 10th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in the capital yesterday gawked at the concept cars or the debuts of several models from major car makers or simply the bigger display of cars and more cars.

Japanese car maker Nissan's light commercial vehicle NV200 is sure to draw gasps as it boasts a storage pod that slides out to become a workbench; or a modified Hummer with gullwing doors and diamond-encrusted door handles; or a two-wheel Segway Personal Transporter that comes as an attachment to Opel's Flextreme concept car.

The show, also called Auto China 2008, which runs till April 28 at New Beijing International Exhibition Center, represents everything that is attractive to the growing number of car buffs in China. Besides boasting more than seven world debuts at the show, including Nissan's new Teana, Buick Invicta concept, Audi A5 sport utility vehicle and five Chery Faira compacts, car makers are also actively introducing small cars in the world's second-largest auto market.

The move underscored their efforts not only to entice more budget-minded first-time auto buyers in China but also to cater to growing demand for low fuel-consumption and low emission models.

US auto maker Ford Motor Corp said over the weekend that it will produce its revamped Ford Fiesta locally in China as early as the end of this year after the model made its Chinese premiere at the show.

The five-door hatchback will be made at a plant in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, that is jointly invested by Ford, its affiliate Mazda and China's Chang'an Automobile Co.

Japanese car maker Honda unveiled its new Fit subcompact at the show yesterday. The model, which has topped sales in Japan for five months since its global debut last October, will be launched in the second half of this year in China with a 1.3-liter or 1.5-liter engine capacity.

Mercedes-Benz Cars said the Smart For Two subcompact will also be available to Chinese customers from the middle of 2009. Klaus Maier, the firm's executive vice president, expects additional sales for the model in China as the car combines high quality and safety, low fuel consumption and has a unique space concept.

More than 1.86 million new compact cars hit China's roads in 2007, a rise of 445,000 units from 2006.

(Shanghai Daily April 21, 2007)