For years the automobile industry has been the largest pillar sector in Shanghai.

So far, planning and survey for the automobile city is going on intensely.

An elementary framework of the automobile city will take shape in five years' time, a showcase of China's largest car production base highlighting Shanghai Volkswagen Corp., the largest car parts production base in east China, and the largest second-hand car trading center and after-sales service center nationwide.

Automobile industry in the city has set targets for coming years to absorb advanced technologies and management modes while at the same time enhance capability in car design and parts development.

Shanghai will invest 35 billion yuan in car production in the coming five years and the output value of the sector is set to reach 150 billion yuan by year 2005, about 14 percent of the city' s total industrial output value.

(Xinhua 02/25/2001)