In addition to quick expansion in production and sales, China's auto market is also starting to embrace sports cars.
More sports car makers are working to break into the world's third biggest market, where Ferrari and Porsche AG dominate due to stronger brand awareness.
It's that lack of brand awareness that poses the biggest challenge for new entries into the market.
Germany-based Weismann debuted in China with its MF3 roadster, which has a top speed of 270 kilometers per hour.
The company plans to open its first showroom next month in Beijing. Early next year it will open another showroom in Shanghai.
They expect sales in China to reach 20 units per year within three to four years, compared with its total annual production of 150 units.
The luxury car market generates more than 2 billion dollars in sales last year. It is expected to grow 20 percent annually until 2008 and then 10 percent per year until 2015, when sales are expected to exceed 11.5 billion dollars.
Based on the latest rich list in China, more people can afford such cars. More than 500 people had assets totaling more than 800 million Yuan.
Last year, people spent more than 250 million Yuan at the first Top Marques Shanghai.
In light of the increasing demand for luxury sedans such as Bentleys, Rolls-Royces and Lincolns, no car maker can afford to turn a blind eye to the Chinese market.
Spyker is another sports car maker eager to expand on the mainland.
Two years ago, the Dutch carmaker established Spyker of China Ltd - its only subsidiary outside Holland except for the United States.
Spyker debuted its C8 Spyder and C8 Laviolette at Marques. Final discussions are taking place for its first showroom in Shanghai. The company, which sells cars priced between five million Yuan and 10 million Yuan, has one outlet in Beijing. It also has one dealer in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Dalian.
Hulme Supercars Ltd also looked for a partner at the event.
The influx of new players will collide with Porsche and Ferrari for market share. But they do have the crucial head start and cars more suitable for daily use.
Booming sales have also prompted Porsche and Ferrari to launch more aggressive marketing plans to maintain leading positions.
The Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai not only helps raise awareness of race cars and their drivers, but also cements the reputation of companies like Ferrari.
This year, Ferrari launched a Chinese version of its Website to provide easier access to information about the company and its products.
Meanwhile, Porsche organized its first ever Porsche Sports Driving School event in Beijing and Shanghai this year. It helped Porsche owners learn and experience the fundamentals of driving its cars.
Better-than-expected sales of the Italian made cars increased confidence in the market. Porsche aims to sell 1,350 units this year, 500 more than in 2005.
Sales for the first nine months have been strong and a double digital increase for the year is expected.
The Porsche product portfolio includes Boxster, Cayman, 911 and Cayenne. Porsche China & Jebsen & Co (China) Motors Ltd commenced operations in 2001. They have 14 Porsche Centers across the country.
Source:佚名