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BEIJING - China surged past Japan last year to become the world's No. 2
vehicle market, behind the United States, as car purchases by newly
affluent drivers jumped 37 percent, China's auto industry association
said Thursday.

The announcement highlighted China's lightning evolution from a
"bicycle kingdom" into a major auto market. Foreign producers are
racing to open factories and target a growing urban middle class.

Struggling U.S. automakers General Motors and Ford have gotten a boost
from double-digit sales growth in China.