China will import 360,000 lakh automobiles in 2008 to meet the growing demands of auto sales, boosted by the nation's steady economic growth and rising incomes. Sales are expected to cross 10 million in 2008, higher by 22.02 per cent than in the previous year. (Also see: China auto sales expected to cross 10 million units in 2008)

Sports utility vehicles (SUV) continue to be the most sought after car in the imported car segment. Official figures from January to November 2007 show a rise of 65 per cent than the previous year. The China Trading Centre for Automobile Import said in a report that SUVs would continue to be the most popular imported cars in the domestic market.

Sedan sales stood at over 4.70 million units in 2007, accounting for over 53 percent of the total vehicle sales.

Cars in China are mainly imported from Japan, Germany, South Korea and the US, with 42 per cent of sedans coming from Germany and 48 per cent of SUVs from Japan, says China's official Xinhua news agency.