R&D investment to help parts suppliers tide over the crisis

China's auto parts industry is facing tough challenges as the economic downturn puts the brakes to the country's automobile sales growth.

This will add to the list of problems the sector already has to deal with, such as industry fragmentation, limited export channels and poor R&D capacities.

Purchase orders received by Chinese auto parts suppliers are decreasing sharply due to plunging demand from automobile manufacturers, company executives say.