China Overtakes Germany as World's No 3 Carmaker
The Guardian
China has overtaken Germany as the world's third-largest automaker and is closing in on Japan, the global number two, a new study has found.
Figures from the Worldwatch Institute in Washington DC show that China, whose economy grew by 11.9% in the second quarter, increased its vehicle output by 30% last year to more than 7m, overtaking Germany's 5.8m.
This caused consternation in Germany, already reeling from the strong euro and EU plans to impose binding emissions limits on its fleet.