The number of privately-owned cars in China reached 20 million for the first time at the end of 2006, according to statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics.

At the end of 2005, the number of civilian-owned cars was 31.6 million, of which 18.52 million were privately-owned, or 58.6 percent.

China sold 7 million cars in 2006, 60 percent of which went to private buyers. Specialists say that the number of privately-owned cars in China was close to 22 million at the end of 2006, which makes China the second largest auto market in the world, behind the USA.

At present, there are 30 cars for every thousand people in China, which is far below the world average of 120 cars.

By People's Daily Online