Twenty years Beijing Auto Show 96'-01'

　　1996

　　May 11, United Automotive Electronic Systems Co., Ltd, a Sino-German JV held its opening and the foundation-stone laying ceremony in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area.

　　With so far a largest single investment among JVs of 2.668 billion Yuan, United Automotive Electronic Systems Co., Ltd mainly produced engine control system.

　　August 10, Circular of the State Council forwarded notification from the State Planning Commission’s Opinions on Abolition of Local Restrictions on the Use of Economical Cars.

　　1997

　　March 25, the contract and the statute of Sino-US joint venture Shanghai General Motors Co., Ltd. and Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center Co., Ltd. Signed in the Beijing Great Hall. Shanghai General Motors became the largest auto joint venture at that time.

　　In May, Yutong Bus Co., Ltd, the first domestic bus company has been put on the market.

　　1998

　　April 28, Guangzhou and Honda signed a joint venture contract.

　　July 1, Guangzhou Honda Automobile Group Co., Ltd. and Japan Honda Motor Co., Ltd. established a 50% to 50% JV called Guangzhou Honda Automobile Co., Ltd.

　　October 28, Asia’s largest bus production base finished construction by Yutong Bus Co., Ltd.

　　In 1998, China’s auto production reached 1.629 million, ranking tenth in the world.

　　1999

　　In January, Beijing took the lead in the implementation of local automobile exhaust emissions regulations stricter than that of the national standards.

　　Chinese Big Three replaced their leaders. March 19, Zhu Yanfeng was appointed general manager of FAW Group Corporation. March 22, Miao Wei was appointed general manager of Dongfeng. In July, Shanghai Automobile Group formed a new leadership and Hu Maoyuan took up the post of president.

　　　September 6, the Audi A6 imperial sedan introduced by FAW-Volkswagen was put into production.

　　In November, Shanghai Volkswagen Technology Center was established.

　　December 15, Shanghai Volkswagen Passat cars went off the assembly line, setting the standard for China’s mid-level sedan. The third plant of Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive group completed construction and was commissioned.

　　2000

　　January 12, the State Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau issued a mandatory national standard about vehicle unleaded petrol, which has come into effect on January 1 this year.

　　In February, Hafei, the Songhua River pleasure model participated in the Geneva International Motor Show, which was the first time China’s automobile joined in the famous four International Auto Show.

　　June 9, the only one post-doctoral site within bus industry completed by Yutong Bus Co., Ltd.

　　July 12, Tianjin Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. established jointly by Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Tianjin Xiali Auto Company laid a foundation in Tianjin.

　　Closed at October 11, fifth Plenary Session of the fifteenth Central Committee discussed and passed the CPC Central Committee’ formulation of the Outline of the 10th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, which clearly put forward to encourage cars into ordinary people’s families and vigorously develop public transportation. This is the first time that the automobile consumption and sedans enter common families was included within national development planning.

　　In December, Sail, Xiali 2000, antelope, Century Star, Zhonghua, Big Dipper, Pioneer, Toyota Coaster successively went off the assembly line, which meant a new model every four day, another record number during the Chinese auto industry.

　　In 2000, China’s annual output exceeded 2 million units.

　　2001

　　January 1, PRC Interim Regulations on Vehicle Purchase Tax came into effect. The original vehicle purchase surcharge was abolished.

　　In January, Anhui Chery joined in SAIC, renamed SAIC Chery Automobile Co., Ltd.

　　February 19, the State Council issued the notification of institutional reform, nice Bureaus including the National Machinery bureau were removed and the automotive industry management-related functions authorized to State Economic and Trade Commission.

　　April 25, Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd. was set up in Chongqing. So far before China entered into WTO, all automobile manufacturing giant in the world established strong strongholds for expansion in China.

　　In April, Zhejiang Geely Automobile Co., Ltd. was established.

　　May 10, the State Development Planning Commission liberalized the price of domestic cars.

　　In June, China’s first electric car came out in Dongfeng Motor Corporation.

　　July 21, the one millionth car of Changan went off the assembly line, which made Changan the first domestic micro-car enterprise whose production and sales topped 1 million units.

　　In November, the first batch of GL8 wagon of Shanghai General Motors exported into the Philippines and the 5000 units export plan started, creating an export record of China’s high-end cars.

　　November 9, Geely and Nanya listed into the sixth Notification. Management of Near-sedan loosed.

　　December 11, China’s accession to WTO announced that China auto industry entered a new era. Within the next five years tariffs on imported cars would be reduced, the quota for imported cars would be gradually liberalized and the auto service trade market would be opened to foreign auto manufacturers.

　　(Translator: yalong/Jessie)

　　See original Chinese report Please click: http://auto.sohu.com/20100318/n270927690.shtml