China FAW Group Corp delivers its self-developed J6 heavy trucks to customers during a ceremony held in Changchun, Jilin Province, July 15, 2007.(Xinhua Photo)

    BEIJING, July 16 -- Chinese home-grown auto brands, encouraged by robust sales, are seeking to expand their overseas presence and shed their image as low-grade vehicle producers.

    Qin Lihong, vice president of the Chery Autos sales arm, said: "Many Chinese auto brands, including Chery, are upgrading their products and vigorously seeking to expand their presence in European countries and other developed nations."

    Speaking at the Fifth China Changchun International Automobile Fair that opened on Friday in Changchun, capital of northeast Jilin Province, Qin said Chery's vehicles have proven competitive in southwest Asia, the Middle East and North African countries, and the company plans to seek bigger markets in North America and Europe.

    Early this month, the 10-year-old Chinese auto company in Wuhu, eastern Anhui Province, inked a deal with Chrysler Group to export the first Chinese-made cars to the United States.

    Chery announced last week that its exports quadrupled in the first half of the year, with overseas sales likely to top 100,000 vehicles for the whole year.

    The company, which holds a 7.2 percent share of the domestic market, has sold cars to 50 countries, with Russia, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia and Argentina its major markets overseas.

    At the Changchun fair, Chery unveiled the Ruiqi 2, its third new vehicle this year, showing its determination to ramp up sales in both domestic and overseas markets.

    Also at the fair, another ambitious Chinese auto maker, Geely, presented its first medium-level family sedans equipped with self-developed engines. Company vice president Wang Ziliang said: "Geely is trying to change its image as a cheap, low-grade auto producer. It is taking established international auto brands as a benchmark, and trying to compete with them globally."

    Figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show the country's auto industry maintained strong momentum in the first half of the year, with both vehicle output and sales rising more than 20 percent.

    In the first six months, auto companies produced 4.46 million vehicles and sold 4.37 million of them worldwide. Industry analysts say both output and sales are expected to hit a record 8.5 million this year.

    CAAM president Hu Maoyuan said Chinese indigenous auto brands have entered a crucial phase where they have the opportunity to become strong global producers.

    Other Chinese auto makers, including Zhongxing, Jianghuai and Lifan, said they are revamping their strategies, and investing heavily in developing higher-grade vehicles.

    "By taking over foreign companies that have a strong research-and-development culture, or cooperating with partners, Chinese auto brands will improve their technology and development capabilities," said Xiao Guopu, vice president of the Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corp.

    But the international market is far from easy, Xiao added. "Chinese auto makers still face a lot of handicaps, including an undersized sales network and a lack of talented people able to work in the international market," he said.

    Last year, China became the world's second largest market for new vehicles after the U.S..

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)