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| Motor show gears up in Shanghai | Motor show gears up in Shanghai |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Shanghai motor show has got under way in China, one of the few countries in the world where the automobile market is growing. | The Shanghai motor show has got under way in China, one of the few countries in the world where the automobile market is growing. |
| The show once seen by the industry as marginal on the international circuit is expected to see carmakers unveil an unprecedented 13 new models. | The show once seen by the industry as marginal on the international circuit is expected to see carmakers unveil an unprecedented 13 new models. |
| China has just overtaken the US as the world's largest car market, with buyers spurred on by government incentives. | China has just overtaken the US as the world's largest car market, with buyers spurred on by government incentives. |
| US and European car sales are sharply down in the global recession. | US and European car sales are sharply down in the global recession. |
| 'Important market' | 'Important market' |
| Porsche kicked off the show on Sunday night by unveiling the Panamera, the German luxury carmaker's first foray into the sedan segment. | Porsche kicked off the show on Sunday night by unveiling the Panamera, the German luxury carmaker's first foray into the sedan segment. |
| Many automakers now see the Chinese market as at the forefront Paul Gao, Chery Automobile | |
| "We wanted to give a sign how important the Chinese market for us, is," said a Porsche official of the company's first launch of a new model series outside Europe or the US. | "We wanted to give a sign how important the Chinese market for us, is," said a Porsche official of the company's first launch of a new model series outside Europe or the US. |
| In another world premiere on Sunday, German automaker Daimler AG unveiled the remodelled Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG sedan. AMG sales nearly tripled in China last year. | In another world premiere on Sunday, German automaker Daimler AG unveiled the remodelled Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG sedan. AMG sales nearly tripled in China last year. |
| The company says it expects government incentives to give sales of luxury cars a major boost this year. | The company says it expects government incentives to give sales of luxury cars a major boost this year. |
| Surging sales | |
| Beijing has introduced tax cuts on fuel-efficient cars and incentives for people in rural areas to buy newer models. | Beijing has introduced tax cuts on fuel-efficient cars and incentives for people in rural areas to buy newer models. |
| Domestic Chinese car sales hit a monthly record of 1.11 million vehicles in March, exceeding those in the US for the third month in a row and up 5% from a year earlier. | |
| Organisers say the Auto Shanghai 2009 will feature 13 launches, mostly from local brands, but up from five at the show two years ago. | Organisers say the Auto Shanghai 2009 will feature 13 launches, mostly from local brands, but up from five at the show two years ago. |
| Most Chinese carmakers have so far focused on competing mainly on price with basic and often rudimentary vehicles, leaving foreign-branded cars to sweep up the mid- to high-end segments. | Most Chinese carmakers have so far focused on competing mainly on price with basic and often rudimentary vehicles, leaving foreign-branded cars to sweep up the mid- to high-end segments. |
| The show opens to the public for a week starting on 22 April. | The show opens to the public for a week starting on 22 April. |
| "Many automakers now see the Chinese market as at the forefront," said Paul Gao, chief executive of Chery Quantum Auto, a unit of Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile. |