China exported a total of 278 940 vehicles in from January to April this year, 24% more than exports over the first four months of 2011, chinanews.com reports, citing figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Year-on-year growth rates for passenger and commercial automobile exports over the four month period were 26% and 21% respectively.

Chinese automobile imports and exports both increased in March and April, with year-on-year growth during the latter month around 30%. In a recently made statement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Mechanic, Electronic and Hi-Tech said that although Chinese automobile exports constitute a very small part of its overall trade, there is a large margin for them to grow. The department maintains that automobiles will become one of the country’s most exported goods in the future.
Meanwhile Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile has said it hopes to see its vehicle exports hit 200 000 units this year. Jin Yibo, a company spokesman, said Chery will make efforts to export at least 170 000 units this year and will try to achieve the 200 000-unit goal. Chery’s worldwide sales reached 17 412 units in April, up 39% from March and 40% from the same period last year, Jin said, adding that exports are expected to exceed 20 000 units in May. The company, based in east China’s Anhui province, has 16 production bases around the world and its products have been exported to more than 80 countries and regions.
Chery exported a record 160 200 vehicles last year, maintaining its status as a leading auto exporter in China. In March, Chery and Indian-owned luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover announced they had reached an agreement on setting up a joint venture in China and the two sides will hold equal shares in the new company. Chery opened a plant in Venezuela last August and is expected to start operations at another plant currently under construction in Brazil in September 2013. The company has also announced plans to build assembly plants in Myanmar and several African countries.