In pictures: history of China's auto industry (7)

（Xinhua）  08:32, July 15, 2013  

The First Automotive Works Group (FAW) will have its 60th founding anniversary on July 15, 2013, which also marks the history of China's auto industry. Founded in 1953, the auto maker is known as "the cradle of China's automobile industry" for it produced the country's first self-made truck, the Jiefang, in 1956. Since then, China's auto industry has forge ahead, making its first sedan, SUV, high-powered engine and so on.

During the past six decades, the country has grown up to the world's largest auto maker and auto market, exporting vehicles to over 180 countries and regions.

In the year of 2010, carmaker Geely Holdings Group Co. Ltd. completed its 1.8 billion U.S. dollar-buyout of Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo unit, in a landmark foreign acquisition by a Chinese company.

And three years later, an upgraded L version of FAW's limousine Hongqi was used to receive French President Francois Hollande during his visit to China, catching the eye as the company continues its attempts to rejuvenate the brand.

According to the latest data released by China Association of Automobile Manufacturing (CAAM), automobile sales and output in the country in the first half of this year grew to more than 10 million units. Even so, for most Chinese automakers who have relied too much on foreign companies to compete, they have a long way to go towards brand building, intellectual property and new energy vehicles.