The 11th Shanghai International Auto Show, to end tomorrow, is a strong reflection of the seduction of China's auto market as foreign automakers parade their products in a record exhibition area of more than 120,000 square metres.

All have vowed to maintain or speed up their expansion plans in China, although some are suffering profit slumps and even huge losses globally.

 Troy Clarke, vice-president of General Motors (GM), told China Daily that the world's No 1 automaker will maintain "the pace and timing" of its investment plans in China, even though its sales in the country have decelerated sharply.

"China is still the most dynamic and best place in the auto world today," Clarke said.

GM announced last June that it would invest a further more than US$3 billion jointly with partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp to double its annual production capacity to 1.3 million units in China by 2007.

GM's sales in China grew mildly to 132,000 vehicles in the first quarter of this year, he said.

Last year, GM sold 492,000 vehicles in China, up 27 per cent from 2003.

The company reported a 13-year record quarterly loss of US$1.1 billion during the first quarter, the firm's figures show.

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