For 10 days from November 19, Auto China 2006 will display products from 1,500 manufacturers from 20 countries.

"Auto China 2006, the Ninth Beijing International Auto Show, achieved an unprecedented scale this time, recognized as an international top level auto exhibition extensively by the industry," said Wang Xia, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Automotive Sub-Council and China Chamber of International Commerce, Automotive Chamber, and organizer of Auto China.

In his view, Auto China 2006, which will cover 120,000 square metres this year, is no different from Paris's Mondial de l'Automobile, the International Geneva Motor Show or the North American International Auto Show.

According to statistics from the CCPIT Automotive Sub-Council, at least 556 vehicles will be displayed at the Beijing show, covering nearly all global manufacturers' brands. Six sedans will make their global debuts at the show, compared to just one the Ford Focus at Auto China 2004.

"This is the first time all of the world's top manufacturers six auto groups and three sedan makers have converged on Beijing," said Wang. "Moreover, the luxury brands of Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati are making their first appearance as sedan manufacturers."

In addition, more than 1,200 domestic and overseas auto spare parts suppliers will bring their advanced products and technologies to Beijing.

Special coverage: Auto China 2006   Related publication:        Related readings: Rolls-Royce adding staff to meet nation's luxury car demand

Leading German automaker Volkswagen has officially announced it has positioned Auto China as one of its three international A-level auto exhibitions, with two others being Paris's Mondial de l'Automobile and the International Geneva Motor Show.

Daimler-Chrysler, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Nissan all say they attach great importance to Auto China.

"Being the second-largest auto market in the world, China is undoubtedly very attractive to all of the global giants," Wang said.

Distinct change

Wang, who has long been a major organizer of Auto China, said that this year's event was very different in one way the emergence of local brands.

In the past, domestic auto producers attached little importance to auto exhibitions. "However, from their enthusiasm for Auto China 2006, we can see that they have shifted from being product- and technology-oriented to market-oriented," Wang said.

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