The project, which will take five years to complete, is designed to meet the surging demands of cars by local consumers on the eve of the country's forthcoming WTO entry, according to local officials.

The zone, which is located in Anting Town, Jiading County (home to the Shanghai Volkswagen Co., Ltd), is to be built into Asia's largest car trading and servicing center, covering 60 sq km.

The compound will integrate the functions of research, manufacturing, trade and servicing of cars.

Family cars, business vans, parts, and second-hand cars will be traded in the zone, which will provide other services, such as consumer loans, leasing business, insurance, maintenance and servicing, as well as motorists' clubs.

(xinhua 05/16/2001)