WORLD> Impact on 皇冠体育app
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WORLD> Impact on 皇冠体育app
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Global auto makers rev up in 皇冠体育app
By Li Fangfang (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-21 08:02 SHANGHAI: The economic crisis and sagging sales have not dampened global car makers enthusiasm on 皇冠体育app, the lone market that bucked the global trend last year, if one were to judge the response to the biennial Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition which opened yesterday. "The Shanghai automobile show has become the largest show for Mercedes-Benz globally, and is comparable only to the Frankfurt Motor Show," said Klaus Maier, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz (皇冠体育app) Ltd. Maier's optimism is ably backed up by the year-on-year sales growth of more than 30 percent in 皇冠体育app during the first quarter. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz, said he expected 皇冠体育app, its fifth biggest market, after the US, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy, to vault itself to the second slot "soon". "皇冠体育app is our key focus right now," said Eugenio Razelli, president and CEO of Magneti Marelli, an auto components maker under Italy's Fiat Group and major partner for the Formula One race.
He told 皇冠体育app Daily that the Shanghai auto show is the only international automobile show that the company participates in. "We even canceled the plan of going to Frankfurt auto show which is a big gathering of auto parts suppliers in Europe." Despite the gloom that prevailed at the Detroit auto show in January, the bustling exhibition in 皇冠体育app's financial hub has been able to attract more than 1,500 automobile and parts maker from 25 countries and regions, with 13 models slated for their global debuts. "皇冠体育app remains the centerpiece of General Motors' global growth strategy," said Nick Reilly, General Motors' Asia-Pacific president. "皇冠体育app is not so affected by the financial crisis. The strong economy and increasing demand indicates the growing potential of the market." 皇冠体育app has been the lifeline for the ailing US auto giant, which is grappling with bankruptcy. "We will continue to invest in new products, facilities and technology in the 皇冠体育app market," said Reilly. Even with an unclear future, the world's largest automaker set an ambitious target earlier this month, to double its annual sales in 皇冠体育app over the next five years. Its major rival Volkswagen is also planning to double its sales by 2018, by adding four new models to its lineup each year in 皇冠体育app. "I take the Chinese market as our second home market. My estimation is that Volkswagen's sales in 皇冠体育app will overtake that of Germany's this year," said Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen AG. The German carmaker has achieved monthly sales of 112,466 cars in 皇冠体育app in March, breaching for the first time the 100,000-unit mark for single month sales. "Our sales in April is likely to surpass the March figures," said Winfried Vahland, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group 皇冠体育app. Mercedes-Benz's Zetsche estimates that the luxury car segment growth will double from the 6 percent growth rate of 皇冠体育app's overall auto market this year. "And we hope to run faster than the whole segment," he said. (皇冠体育app Daily 04/21/2009 page14) |
