China's automobile industry has shown steady growth in 2024, with vehicle production and sales rising consistently during the first nine months of the year, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on Saturday.
During the January-September period, the country's auto production reached approximately 21.47 million units, up 1.9 percent year on year.
Auto sales totaled 21.57 million units, marking a 2.4 percent increase from the same period last year. Notably, both production and sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) surpassed 8.3 million units, with year-on-year growth exceeding 30 percent in both categories, according to CAAM's data.
CAAM stated that within the structure of automobile production and sales, NEVs now account for nearly 40 percent of total vehicle sales.
China's passenger vehicle market has been gradually picking up, with retail sales growing stronger in the third quarter of this year, thanks to government policies encouraging vehicle trade-ins and manufacturers launching new models during "Golden September and Silver October", a peak period for car sales, said Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of the Association.
In August, China increased the financial stimulus to encourage consumers to scrap their old vehicles and buy new ones. Subsidies for trade-ins of new-energy passenger vehicles have doubled from 10,000 yuan (about 1,414 U.S. dollars) to 20,000 yuan, while those for trade-ins of fuel passenger vehicles have been lifted from 7,000 yuan to 15,000 yuan.
At the same time, the export of finished vehicles has also seen steady growth. In the first three quarters, China's automobile exports reached 4.312 million units, a 27.3 percent year-on-year increase. Among them, exports of NEVs totaled 928,000 units, up 12.5 percent year on year.
China's auto sector shows strong growth momentum in first nine months
China Media Group's (CMG) "China Red" 4K/8K ultra-high-definition broadcast vehicle fleet arrived at the Port of Livorno, Italy on Sunday ahead of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Following the successful fulfillment of the broadcast mission of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the "China Red" fleet has once again set out overseas and will undertake the production of 8K international public signals for the opening and closing ceremonies and multiple events of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games scheduled for February.
The broadcast vehicles were transported aboard the carrier Yuan Hai Kou, which departed from the Taicang Port in east China's Jiangsu Province on December 1, 2025.
The carrier sailed through the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, making a brief stopover at the Port of Piraeus in Greece on December 26 before proceeding to Italy.
Throughout the entire journey, the CMG ultra-high-definition broadcast vehicles were provided with comprehensive security and logistical support.
The "China Red" broadcast fleet consists of two 4K/8K ultra-high-definition broadcast vans and two supporting vehicles.
The 4K/8K broadcast vans are independently designed and integrated by the CMG -- China's flagship broadcaster. Each vehicle is 17 meters long, accommodates up to 34 workstations across five operational areas, and is capable of processing up to 80 channels of 4K signals, representing the cutting edge of international ultra-high-definition live production technology.
After completing customs clearance, the fleet will leave Livorno for Milan and is scheduled to officially move into the San Siro Stadium on January 13, where it will begin preliminary preparations for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic broadcast operations.
The 2026 Winter Games will open on February 6, 2026, at Milan's San Siro Olympic Stadium, with around 2,900 athletes expected to take part. It will be Italy's first Winter Olympics in 20 years since Turin 2006, and 70 years after Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the 1956 edition.
CMG broadcast vehicles arrive in Italy for 2026 Winter Olympics coverage
