Last year, China’s volume of imported automobiles saw a smaller 31 percent increase from a year earlier, reaching 353,000 units, while imports at customs grew by only 2.8 percent to 419,000 units in 2009. The reduction of the increase rate was caused by two factors: obviously, the global financial crisis and a government tax on imported cars equipped with engines bigger that 3.0 liters.
However, the second half of last year saw a rebound of automotive imports. This trend was a result of the Chinese economy's overall recovery.
According to Ding Hongxiang, chairman of China Automobile Trading Co, the increasing demand in semi-large and medium Chinese cities also contributed to the recovery of auto imports. He added that sales in these cities represented 53 percent of the country’s total figure. Buyers appreciate the fact that imported cars offer individual features, choosing them in favor of their domestic-produced versions. Ding also said that, in the current year, demand in large cities is expected to recover and that automotive producers will improve their medium-sized engine offers in their line-ups.
Last year China became the world's biggest automotive market, surpassing the U.S. for the first time in history. In addition to that, China also became the world's number one car-producing country. In January 2010 car sales in China posted a healthy increase, as the government decided to expand its car-buying support policies.
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