Shanghai Auto Show Exemplifies China’s Economic Might

Topics:  Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition

VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
19 April 2011 (9:15 am)

The world’s biggest automakers are showcasing their latest models at this week’s Shanghai Auto Show, looking for investment and sales opportunities in the world’s largest car market.

General Motors, Toyota, Honda and Volkswagon are premiering new models at Shanghai, many of them in an emerging class of environmentally friendly or “green” vehicles. U.S.-based Ford Motor Company will debut more than dozen vehicles at this week’s show, including its all-electric Focus compact car and the C-Max plug-in hybrid .

Japan’s Honda Motor Company has announced plans to build electric cars in China beginning in 2012.

Meanwhile, U.S.-based General Motors, which is planning to introduce a new version of its popular Malibu sedan at Shanghai, says it will seek to boost its market share in China to more than 14 percent by 2015.

The Shanghai Auto Show, China’s largest, opened to reporters on Tuesday. The general public will be allowed in starting Thursday.

China surpassed the United States to become the world’s largest automotive market in 2009, after it pulled through the global recession in a strong position. Vehicle sales in China rose 32 percent in 2010 to 18 million units.