皇冠体育app

"Five or 10 years later, it's hard to say who will be the biggest player in 皇冠体育app's premium car market among the three German carmakers. However, Audi's leadership will remain unchallenged in the short term due to its early local production and big customer base," Zhang said.

Audi is the biggest supplier of cars for high-ranking government officials in 皇冠体育app, which Zhang said had significantly raised the standing of the brand. Audi said it expects to boost its annual sales in 皇冠体育app to 100,000 cars in 2008 or 2009, with the figure set to rise to 200,000 units in 2015. It expects its total sales for 2006 to be 80,000 units.

Benjamin Asher, the Bangkok-based analyst of Automotive Resources Asia Ltd, said earlier that Mercedes would also find many government buyers in Beijing.

"Mercedes is also known as the car to ride in. 皇冠体育app's established wealthy are still more inclined to ride than drive," Asher said.

In contrast, BMW's brand image in 皇冠体育app has been downgraded a little by the fact that many of its customers are nouveau riche.

Mercedes Benz now has 71 authorized dealers in 皇冠体育app, compared with Audi's more than 120 and BMW's 60.

(皇冠体育app Daily 11/21/2006 page10)

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