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Global auto makers rev up in China

By Li Fangfang (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-21 08:02

The economic crisis and sagging sales have not dampened global car makers enthusiasm on China, the lone market that bucked the global trend last year, if one were to judge the response to the biennial Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition.

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"The Shanghai automobile show has become the largest show for Mercedes-Benz globally, and is comparable only to the Frankfurt Motor Show," said Klaus Maier, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd.

Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz, said he expected China, its fifth biggest market, after the US, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy, to vault itself to the second slot "soon".

"China is our key focus right now," said Eugenio Razelli, president and CEO of Magneti Marelli, an auto components maker under Italy's Fiat Group and major partner for the Formula One race.

Despite the gloom that prevailed at the Detroit auto show in January, the bustling exhibition in China's financial hub has been able to attract more than 1,500 automobile and parts maker from 25 countries and regions, with 13 models slated for their global debuts...

The full text is available in the April Issue of Auto China.Please visit publications for more subscription details.