Carmakers hope for sustained growth in China

After a turbo-charged year in 2009, car makers at the Guangzhou Auto Show are hoping China's stimulus measures continue to drive the market upward. They also acknowledge that environmentally-friendly cars are the future of China's auto industry.

China's auto market has been a rare bright spot in the global arena.

Its importance has grown beyond expectations. The government's stimulus package has led China to overtake the US and have the world's biggest car market this year.

Auto makers hope China will continue its growth that has increased the market by more than 40 percent in the year through October.

Jeffrey Shen, president & CEO of Chang'an Ford Mazda Aotomobile, said, "In every mature market there was actually a downturn, but in China it is growing by 50, maybe 40 percent, year over year compared to 2008. So that is a great opportunity for China auto makers, like us, to grab the opportunity and also build capacity for the future."

Passenger car sales in China jumped more than three-quarters in October alone to reach over 940,000 units. This comes after sales topped the one million mark in September for the first time ever.

Beijing has made no formal decision on whether to extend the stimulus measures beyond the official cut-off date of December 31st.