Chengdu auto show kicks off

102 brands to participate; will have exhibition of second-hand vehicles

The 2014 Chengdu Moto Show kicks off on Friday and will last until September 7. The show will see the participation of 102 auto brands and is expected to receive over 680,000 visitors, according to information on the auto show's official website.

As consumers in western China continue to gain purchasing power, the Chengdu auto show has grown into one of the most important auto shows in the country. Major carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volkswagen as well as domestic brands like Geely will display their latest models at the auto show.

The auto show will also have luxury brands such as Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini. British brand McLaren is attending the auto show for the first time.

Besides showcasing new cars, the Chengdu auto show also features an outdoor exhibition of second-hand vehicles. Other than Mercedes-Benz, which took part in the second-hand display last year, Audi will also participate this year with 14 second-hand Audi vehicles displayed at the show.

The second- and third-tier cities have become an increasingly important driving force for China's car market, as major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tianjin are limiting car purchases due to environmental and traffic concerns. This has also helped the Chengdu auto show to grow in importance in the sector.

China's auto industry is still growing rapidly at present. In the first seven months, China sold a total of 10.99 million units of passenger cars, up 11 percent year-on-year, according to data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).