-- November 10, 1998, China’s leading national luxury car, an upgraded Hongqi car, was launched by the FAW Group Corp.

-- December 15, 1999, first Passat drove off the production line of Shanghai Volkswagen, setting standards for China’s mid-grade cars. At the same time, a third plant of Shanghai Volkswagen was completed and put into production.

-- August 21, 2001, relevant government departments announced that cars that had reached the European No.2 Emission Standard would be exempted from 30 percent of consumption taxes.

-- November 2001, Shanghai General Motors exported its first batch of Buick GL8 models to the Philippines for a 5,000-vehicle bill, creating a new record for China’s exports of mid-grade and luxury cars.

-- December 11, China formally joined the World Trade Organization, leading the Chinese auto industry into a new era of development.

-- 2002, Chinese auto output hit 3 million vehicles

-- July 15, 2003, Chinese auto industry celebrated its 50th anniversary.

-- July 12, 2004, for the first time in history, a Chinese auto company appeared in the list of the Global 500. Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. ranked 461st on the list for its sales income at 97.29 billion yuan in 2003.