An auto-making joint venture established in Guangzhou January 21 will produce Isuzu-brand luxury buses to meet increasing demands from China's booming tourist industry and expressway traffic.

The investment for Guangzhou-Isuzu Bus Corporation totals 30 million US dollars, with the Guangzhou Auto Corporation Group contributing 51 percent of registered capital, and Japan's Isuzu Motors and its investment company in China providing the rest.

With an annual production capacity of 1,200 buses, the joint venture is expected to be operational in a year.

Isuzu Motors has invested more than 100 million US dollars in China since 1985 and has established more than 10 companies here.

Aiming to make Guangzhou an auto-making center in south China, the Guangzhou Auto Corporation Group joined with Honda Motors of Japan to launch a joint venture in 1998, which produces Honda Accord sedans.