Sunday, December 7, 2003

China at a glance

While just 1.5 percent of the population can afford a new model, China is expected to become the world's No. 2 source of auto sales within 10 years.

China facts Population: 1.3 billion Size: 3.6 million square miles, slightly smaller than the U.S. Gross domestic product: $4.8 trillion Gross domestic product per household: $3,800 Major industries: Iron, steel, coal, machinery, textiles Major trading partners: U.S., Japan, Germany, South Korea Who is buying cars in China Average salary of a new car buyer: $6,000 or more a year Average age of a new car buyer: 35 to 37 Sex: 70 percent of new car buyers in China are male Fun fact: Most buyers pay cash and first-time buyers account for 70 percent of all purchases. Some 183 models are now available for sale in China Sources: The World Almanac, J.D. Power & Associates