BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed on Monday that the average unit price of imported cars in China reached nearly 40,000 U.S. dollars in the first three months this year.

    This might indicated that China has been importing more high-grade autos.

    Statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed in the January-March period, China imported 50,998 units of vehicles (including whole sets of spare parts) which valued at 1.7 billion dollars, an increase of 105.5 percent and 109 percent year on year, respectively.

    Among the imported automobiles, nine-seat cross-country vehicles accounted for 46 percent of the total, and as of sedans, 42.4 percent. The rest were trucks, small- and medium-sized passenger cars and vehicles for special use.

    In the first quarter of this year, China imported 23,233 units of four-wheel drive cross-country vehicles valued 672 million dollars, a rise of 202 percent and 205 percent from the corresponding period of 2005. The average unit price of the cross-country vehicles stood at 29,800 dollars.

    The number of sedan imported came to 21,382 units which valued 830 million dollars, up 42.9 percent and 79.4 percent year on year.

    Officials with the Ministry of Commerce attributed the sharp surge in imports of sedans and cross-country vehicles in the first three months to lowering tariffs by the country early this year.

    The high consumption taxes policy due for big emission vehicles has also helped to push car dealers to import such sort of vehicles in a great number ahead of the implementation of the policy.

    Besides, consumers' increasing demand for high-grade cars has also played a role in the growth of imported autos, as home-made cars still can not compete with foreign ones in quality, the officials said. Enditem