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China to have 140 million cars by 2020
(Aggencies)
Updated: 2004-09-04 10:42
China expects to have 140 million automobiles plying its roads by 2020, seven
times more than now, fueling demand for transportation infrastructure and
services, state media reports.
Li Xinghua, deputy director of the Communication Ministry's Comprehensive
Planning Department, predicted that China's auto population would eventually
reach around 250 million, or about 150 cars per 1,000 people.
Government statistics show that China produced a record four million
autos in 2003, when the number of private cars grew by 80 percent thanks to the
country's strong economic advance and growing middle class.
It is estimated that this year's production will top five million units,
making China the world's third-largest auto manufacturer after the United States
and Japan.
That demand has been coupled with the unveiling of ambitious expansion
plans by both international and domestic auto players.
Li said the fast growth of the auto
industry was putting increasing pressure on transportation infrastructure and
fixing the discrepancy was the top task for the ministry.
Chinese vice minister of communications Weng Mengyong said his office
would adopt "substantial, effective approaches" in the construction of major
national freeways to connect most Chinese cities to cope with the number of
cars.
He predicted that the current construction of highways between provinces
in western China, as well as those in the Yangtze River Delta in the east and
Pearl River Delta in the south would be completed by 2010.
Statistics from the ministry show that China has already built a 30,000
kilometre (18,600 mile) network of highways, the second longest in the world.
Market analysts cited by Xinhua News Agency said China
was in the launch phase of another round of economic growth and the rapid
development of the auto industry would be a major driving force.
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