China bought from abroad 228,000 units, worth US$7.55 billion, of motor vehicles (including chassis), last year, and sold 342,400 units, worth US$3.14 billion.

 

Sources with the General Administration of Customs said on Thursday the import value exceeded export value by almost US$4.4 billion.

 

This was partly a result of the fact that Chinese-made vehicles were cheaper than imported autos.

 

Chinese usually imported luxury cars from the European Union, the United States and Japan and exported economy cars to developing nations, including African countries.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2007)