Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co (BAIC), parent of commercial vehicle maker Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd, has unveiled a line of passenger cars carrying the revived "Beijing" brand.

The cars, unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show, include three concept sedans, two sport-utility vehicles and one hybrid vehicle, said company chairman Xu Heyi.

Production and sale of the new "Beijing" sedans is expected to start in 2010, according to Xu, who added that the sedans are targeted at the midmarket customers and up.

The Chinese automaker made sedans under the Beijing brand in the 1950s, but exited the segment because it lagged in the necessary technology. It continued to make military vehicles and light-duty trucks under the brand.

BAIC, which is also a local joint venture partner of Daimler AG, Chrysler and Hyundai, has set an overall sales target of 900,000 to one million units for 2008, compared to around 700,000 units in 2007.