Chery reports slight increase in exports last month

Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile Co. on Wednesday said its overseas shipments rose slightly by 5.2 percent year-on-year to 12,429 units last month.

Worldwide, Chery's sales reached 58,709 units in March, up 35.8 percent compared with that of February, said Jin Yibo, a company spokesman.

The company will make efforts to speed up its global expansion and export more cars this year, Jin said.

The company, based in east China's Anhui province, exported a record 160,200 vehicles last year, maintaining its status as one of China's biggest auto exporters for a ninth year.

Last month, Chery and Indian-owned luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced they had reached an agreement to set up a joint venture in China, and the two sides will hold equal shares in the new company.

The scope of the proposed joint venture will include the manufacture of JLR- and JV-branded vehicles, the establishment of a research and development facility, engine manufacturing and the sale of vehicles produced by the joint venture, according to the agreement.

Chery opened a plant in Venezuela last August and is expected to start operations at another plant currently under construction in Brazil in September 2013.

The company has also announced plans to build assembly plants in Myanmar and several African countries.