Records abound with Auto China 2012 underway

Best, most and newest models as the competition reaches a fevered pitch

When the first Beijing International Automotive Exhibition was held 22 years ago, 216 motor vehicles were on display, and that number included motorcycles.

Today a record-high 1,125 vehicles from carmakers both at home and broad are showcased at the grand event held every two years in the capital city.

Some 36 models from foreign carmakers and 84 by domestic brands will make their global premieres at the show, which opens today and continues until May 2. Covering 230,000 square meters, the exhibit has a total of 1,125 vehicles on display. [Photo/China Daily]

Among the vast range of exhibits, 36 vehicles made by foreign carmakers and 84 cars by domestic manufacturers are making their global premieres.

Organizers say almost every major foreign carmaker is joining the gala that will last until May 2 and attract almost a million visitors.

The total exhibition area is a record as well - an all-time high of 230,000 square meters.

The increasing size and importance of the exhibition is another indication of explosive growth over the past two decades as China rose to become the No 1 auto market in the world.

Last year new car sales in the country totaled 18.5 million units, retaining the country's top position for the third consecutive year.

But growth slowed to 2.5 percent from strong double-digit growth in 2009 and 2010, largely due to the expiry of government incentives on small cars.

In the first quarter this year, the numbers actually fell as 1.25 percent fewer passenger vehicles were sold than in the same period last year, according to statistics from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

But the good news is that the rest of the year is likely to be better than the first quarter. Industry consultancy IHS forecasts that passenger vehicle sales in China will increase about 8 percent this year and LMC Automotive projects 9 percent growth.

As sales grow at a slower pace, competition is becoming even more fierce. To stand out in the increasingly crowded marketplace, carmakers are bringing their best and latest products to the auto show.

Foreign carmakers

Volkswagen Group, the largest passenger car producer in China, has booked an entire hall of more than 9,600 square meters to showcase models under its eight brands Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborgini, SEAT, Skoda and Porsche.

Thirty-one Volkswagen-branded models - including the E-Bugster electric car, Cross Coupe and new Lavida making their global debuts in China - are on display across about a third area of the hall.

In a bid to consolidate its leadership position, the automaker has formulated a record 14 billion euro ($18.2 billion) investment plan from 2012 to 2016 to further expand capacity and its lineup of new models.

Its two joint ventures in China have a total of seven existing vehicle plants, with three more under construction that when completed will bring Volkswagen's production capacity in the country to 3 million units, possibly as early as next year.