China Steps up Developing Mini Vehicles

China produced some 500,000 mini vehicles in the first half of this year, accounting for 1/3 of the total vehicle output.

Sources with auto industry said that Chinese-made mini vehicles include cars, vans and trucks, with an exhaust capacity below one liter.

There are five major companies engaged in producing mini vehicles, most of them were sole military factories, but now are converting their technologies into civilian programs.

Experts forecast that mini vehicles will have a rosy picture in the country, where many families are planning to buy comfortable and cheap cars within several years.

The expansion of mini vehicle production will be a general trend in China, according to Liu Tao, general manager of the Auto Company of the Harbin Airplane Corporation, China's main mini vehicle producer.

Besides mini vehicles, China produces 10 million motorcycles every year. Experts believe that mini vehicle and motorcycle industries will continue to be main fields attracting foreign investment.



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