Chinese automotive demand will reach 8 million to 9 million units a year by 2010, compared with around 5 million last year, the government said on Saturday, forecasting a doubling of vehicle numbers by then.
There would be 55 million vehicles on the road in 2010, up from 27 million now, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing Assistant Commerce Minister Huang Hai.
Even that would leave the country with enormous potential for further sales, since Xinhua said there would still be only four cars per 100 people in 2010.