China overtakes Japan as world's No.1 auto maker : report

China overtook Japan as the world's biggest auto producer in 2009, after Japan's production fell 31.5% to 7.93 million units, according to data released by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, sources reported.

However, in the past year, China's auto production jumped 48.3% to 13.79 million units, and the U.S. produced 5.7 million units and slid into third position.

Japan had been the world's largest auto maker since it surpassed the U.S. in 2006.

Besides, China has replaced the U.S. as the world's largest auto market. Vehicle sales jumped 46% year on year to 13.6 million units last year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The figure is likely to increase to about 15 million units this year.

Source: Indiacar.com Source : http://www.hktdc.com (2/3/2010)