STORY: China's auto exports hit record high in 2023
SHOOTING TIME: file
DATELINE: Jan. 11, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:19
LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Chinese made vehicles
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RICHARD VAN DER ENGLE, New Zealand dealer of Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): THOMAS KENNEDY, Australian dealer of SAIC Motor

STORYLINE:

Industrial data showed on Thursday that China's auto exports surged 57.9 percent year on year to a record high of 4.91 million vehicles in 2023 as the country's automakers expanded their presence overseas.

It marks another significant increase after the country exported more than 3 million vehicles in 2022 and over 2 million in 2021.
   
Total auto sales surged 12 percent year on year to top 30.09 million units last year, while output exceeded 30.16 million units, up 11.6 percent compared with the 2022 level, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RICHARD VAN DER ENGLE, New Zealand dealer of Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor
"The awareness for the MG4 has been huge. And we're seeing even many months before the car arrived, we had plenty of inquiries from consumers saying, hey, I hear the MG4 is coming. When will it be here? When can I see it? When can I drive it? So we've seen a huge response to the brand."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): THOMAS KENNEDY, Australian dealer of SAIC Motor
"We've been a partner of (SAIC's) MG since 2020. It's been growing and growing and growing. It's a growing market, but based on the volume and year-on-year growth, EV (electric vehicle) is certainly becoming a lot more popular, and I expect that to continue."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shanghai, China.
(XHTV)