China imported 136,873 automobiles valued at US$4.163 billion from January to September, only 5 percent over the same period last year, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Friday.

With more auto factories established in China, Chinese people can buy homemade cars with high quality and low price, resulting in the low demand for imported vehicles.

Sedans made up 64.8 percent, or 88,598 units, and SUVs 19.5 percent, or 26,714 units, according to China's General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The GAC said that imported spare parts still increased rapidly with a growth rate much higher than automobiles.

From January to September, imported spare parts totaled US$12.938 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21 percent.

After China's entry to World Trade Organization, the country has had to lower tariffs for auto imports and expanding imports' scale.

In 2003, 170,000 automobiles were imported, 100,000 more than in 2001, when China had not become a WTO member.

An insider with the auto industry predicted that "despite a slight increase this year, auto imports will not soar in the next few months since China is expected to cancel its car import quota next year to comply with its WTO obligation."

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2004)