China's new car sales expected to reach up to 16.5 million in 2010

New-car sales in China will reach between 15 million and 16.5 million units in 2010, Xiong Chuanlin, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, told a news conference. New-car sales jumped 46% year-on-year to 13.64 million units in 2009, catapulting China to the top of the global auto market. From here on, new-car sales there are expected to continue growing at a pace of 10-15% annually, but the figure could climb higher this year if the government implements additional economic stimulus measures or the domestic economic heats up, according to Xiong. Because 15% annual growth would propel new-car sales to roughly 30 million units in 2015, energy problems will likely become severe, making it important to develop and promote electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles, Xiong said. (March 9, 2010)