China expects to have 140 million automobiles plying its roads by 2020, seven times more than now.

Government statistics show that China produced a record four million autos in 2003, when the number of private cars grew by 80 per cent due to the country's strong economic growth and growing middle class.

It is estimated that this year's production will top five million units, making China the world's third-largest auto manufacturer after the US and Japan.

That demand has been coupled with the unveiling of ambitious expansion plans by both international and domestic auto players.

Communication Ministry official Li Xinghua predicted that China's auto population would eventually reach around 250 million, or about 150 cars per 1,000 people. The official said the fast growth of the auto industry was putting increasing pressure on transportation infrastructure and fixing the discrepancy was the top task for the ministry.

(Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org)