'Chinese edition' cars debut at Beijing Auto Show

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche gestures next to a new Mercedes Benz E-Class Long Wheelbase during a world premiere ceremony for the vehicle in Beijing, China, April 24, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - International car makers have launched more "Chinese edition" cars to lure customers and increase their competitiveness at the ongoing Beijing Auto Show.

Many of the 112 new cars introduced during the show have been exclusively designed for Chinese customers, including an extended version of the BMW X1, an extended version of the Mercedes E-class and extended version of the Jaguar XF series.

"To meet the needs of Chinese customers with our unwavering commitment, we have created the All New E-Class L," said Hubertus Troska, a member of the Daimler AG management board who is responsible for greater China. "We took the preferences of Chinese consumers into consideration from the very beginning of its design and development."

"'Made in China, for China' is a commitment rather than just a slogan," he said.

According to Sun Wei, an auto show staff member, the extended version cars from foreign luxury brands have attracted most of the visitors over the last few days.

Auto sales have been the most important engine of Chinese consumption growth in the last few years. China's automobile-related sales reached 3.6 trillion yuan ($554.7 billion) in 2015, according to statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics.

Statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed that in the first three months of 2016, more than 2.55 million domestic brand cars were sold, an increase of 11.12 percent year on year.

However, the market share of some foreign brands has shrunk.

"With the popularity of cars in China's small cities and preferential policies for low-emission car purchases, Chinese domestic brands are gaining advantages over foreign brands," said Jia Xinguang, an auto industry expert.

To grab a larger share of the Chinese auto market, foreign car makers, including BMW and Mercedes, have opened engine plants in China as a part of their localization strategy.