China’s auto industry shifts focus to rural car sales

China’s auto industry shifts focus to rural car sales

China’s auto industry executives met with government officials over the weekend in order to seek ways to promote higher car sales in rural areas, according to sources familiar with the matter. The country’s car manufacturing has been facing pressures of falling sales in the world’s largest car market.

While Zeng Guang, senior official at the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) confirmed that the meeting was organized by the association’s magazine, Auto Review, he declined to provide further details of the discussions.

Among the participants of the meeting were officials from the National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and Ministry of Commerce.

Government officials said they were considering policies to expand the second-hand car market. They had also urged auto firms to develop electric vehicles suitable for the rural market.