Changing structure

The Chinese market not only demonstrates high growth rates - its structure is also changing.

In China there is a clear trend towards smaller engines characterized by lower capacity and consumption, greater efficiency and turbo charging. For example, the share of vehicles with larger engines has fallen, while the share with smaller engines has increased. The high level of expertise of German manufacturers and suppliers in developing and producing efficient and economical vehicles and engines can benefit customers in China too.

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The number of Chinese cities with at least 1 million residents is still increasing. For this reason we are driving forward technologies for urban mobility.

We also have our eyes on the infrastructure of the entire country: the expressway network in China is being expanded at breathtaking speed. In 2012 alone, it grew by about 7,300 km to a total length of 90,000 km. This means that since 2011 it has been the largest in the world. There is no end to this process in sight, with many more sections planned.

All the indicators - passenger vehicle density, income trends, and infrastructure - therefore point to further growth of the Chinese vehicle market in coming years. The German automotive industry - manufacturers and suppliers alike -will continue to increase commitment to this important market.

German automakers and suppliers enjoy an excellent reputation in China. We see this confidence in us as an obligation to continue our high speed of innovation. The models our manufacturers have on the Chinese market are very innovative products that demonstrate "made in Germany" quality - whether they are assembled in Germany or in China.

With our high R&D investments we are striving to advance zero-emission driving in China and other markets. Today the German automotive industry is leading further CO2 reduction in many segments. We are willing to enter into constructive dialog and cooperation - here both partners can learn from each other.

The writer is the president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry.