Chinese automakers evolve, innovate, to keep pace with times

CHANGCHUN - Over six decades ago, China set up its first automobile manufacturer in the northeastern industrial city of Changchun as the country began to beef up its economy, and unveiled the nation's first domestically produced passenger car in 1958.

Today, the country is the world's largest automobile manufacturer and seller. It has been so in the past decade. It sold 28.08 million vehicles last year, accounting for 30.6 percent of the global market.

Despite getting a late start, China's automobile manufacturers have been narrowing down the gap with global competitive players and embarked on a journey of becoming a globally popular auto retailer.