CRI听力: Automakers Fight for a Share of the World's Largest Auto Market

Organizers of the 2010 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition are hailing this year's event, dubbing it one of the most important auto shows in the world. CRI's Larry Chen was at the opening on Friday, and reports that the scale of this year's exhibition seems to mirror this country's overall auto market.

That's the sound of just one of almost 90 debuts that opened the Auto China 2010 show today.

With over 2,000 companies participating in 2 separate grand venues in the 2010 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, organizers are aiming to show that the global economic crisis will not slow down China's booming auto market. The show itself is larger than the previous exhibition held in Beijing in 2008, with a total of 990 vehicles displayed, including 89 world debuts.

The increase in the show's size reflects the fierce competition among domestic and international automakers for a slice of the world's largest auto market. Vehicle sales volume in China in 2009 increased 48% from the previous year. This year's first-quarter auto sales rose 72% from a year earlier to over 4.6 million vehicles.

Visitors and, automakers hope, potential car-buyers, will surely make their way to catch a glance at vehicles from domestic companies as well as those from foreign carmakers such as General Motors, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and much more. Organizers say the number of world debut cars is the biggest in the history of Chinese auto shows. They are also eager to promote the fact that 95 new energy vehicles will make their debut at the show reflects the theme of event, titled, "For a Greener Tomorrow."

That theme was clearly evident at the Mazda press conference.

The emphasis on more energy efficient cars surely sets Chinese automaker BYD front and center of the show, as the Rupert Murdoch backed company's emphasis on its hybrid vehicles has caught worldwide attention. The company expects to grow about 20% this year.

Other automakers that will no doubt be in the spotlight during the exhibition includes China's Geely, as it recently announced it will take over Swedish company, Volvo, for $1.8 billion US dollars. Geely is showcasing 55 of its own models, including 11 new vehicles, during the show.

Also in the spotlight, Toyota, who's recent mass recalls and its agreement to pay a record fine to the US government, will surely catch the attention of visitors and the media alike.

Despite the scale of this year's exhibition, China's auto market is still not mature compared to other countries. However, auto companies are eager to capture the market, as the Financial Times reports, "For every 1,000 people in China", only "30 own a car." Only time will tell which brands will come out on top.

For CRI, I'm Larry Chen.