The output of sedans is expected to reach 2.6 million, up 15 percent, said Jiang Lei, executive vice-chairman of the association, at a press conference in Beijing on the upcoming 11th Shanghai International Automobile Exhibition.

In the first quarter of this year, China's automobile output rose 10 percent over the previous year. The annual growth is predicted to be 12 percent, and the next three years should see approximately the same growth, said Jiang.

The increase will be even higher in 2008, thanks to the boost from the Beijing Olympic Games, he added.

Jiang said that last year China's automobile output exceeded five million, going beyond the actual market need and therefore leading to constant price falls. The country's top five automakers now have taken more than 60 percent of domestic market shares.

The biennial Shanghai auto show will be held from April 22 to 28, with a total exhibition area of 120,000 square meters, a new record for the country's auto shows.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2005)