China Automobile Production May Grow By 15% This Year

China’s automobile output this year may grow by as much as 15 percent, expanding from a record, said an official at the China Association of automobile Manufacturers.
 
Production may total about 15 million units, Gu Xianghua, deputy general secretary of the association, said today at a conference in Shanghai.
 
Sales may gain 17 percent to 16 million units, by the State Information Center said last month.
 
Vehicle sales surged 46 percent to 13.6 million units last year, overtaking the U.S. as the world’s biggest auto market, after the government reduced the consumption tax on small vehicles and gave subsidies to encourage vehicle-buying in rural areas.