China Ends U.S.’s Reign as Largest Auto Market

Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) -- China supplanted the U.S. as the world’s largest auto market after its 2009 vehicle sales jumped 46 percent, ending more than a century of American dominance.

The nation’s sales of passenger cars, buses and trucks rose to 13.6 million, the fastest pace in at least 10 years, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. In the U.S., sales slumped 21 percent to 10.4 million, the fewest since 1982, according to Autodata Corp.

Pictured: Chinese party leaders drive to work in the latest 2010 model from the SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co.'s Winton-Shanghai plant, China’s largest car manufacturing facility.