As China's domestic carmakers rush to export to the global market, analysts are predicting the country's auto joint ventures will follow suit.

"Why not, given the large demand from the overseas market, support from the government and approval from the joint ventures' foreign investors?" said Sun Mizi, an auto analyst from Sinotrust Marketing Research & Consulting Ltd. He predicted auto joint ventures such as Guangzhou Honda and Shanghai GM will take over China's auto export market in the coming three to five years.

Shanghai GM, a joint venture between General Motors Corp and the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), shipped 14,000 Chevrolet Sail made-in-China sedans to Chile on August 8. This amount is small change for a company that sold 325,400 vehicles in China last year. The ramifications of the transaction, however, are significant. The auto market leader in China is planning to export more vehicles to South America, Asia and Russia rising markets that share China's penchant for vehicles.

"Shanghai GM will increase its auto export," said Fu Yin, a communications official with Shanghai GM. "The increase in auto exports is partly due to fierce competition in the domestic market and the expansion of our manufacturing capabilities." He said Shanghai GM has long pursued global development strategies while strengthening its presence in China.

Fierce competition in China's market and an expected oversupply has encouraged auto joint ventures to speed up exploration of the overseas market. Japan automaker Nissan's joint venture Dongfeng Nissan exported 1,000 family cars to Angola at the beginning of August.Auto export leader Guangzhou Honda exported around 10,000 sedans last year.

Market analysts forecast the company's export would increase in the future as its manufacturing base in Guangzhou is expected to double its production capabilities this year.

Source:佚名