Sales of new passenger vehicles in China are indeed growing at a slower, still double-digit, pace now, but the rapid expansion of consumer base in the past decades has established a sizable auto aftermarket that offers opportunities to part and service providers.

Shanghai-based consultancy Technomic Asia is clearly going after the trend with its new report "A Strategic Assessment of China’s Light Passenger Vehicle Aftermarket, Fourth Edition."

The company pointed out that:

Parts and service in China's light passenger vehicle market reached an estimated US$27 billion in 2007;

The number of light passenger vehicle cars has expanded to more than 32 million units, with middle-aged vehicles (4-9 years old) reaching a 41 percent share;

The parts and service market is expected to expand at 19 percent per year through 2012.

More information is available at www.technomicasia.com/auto.

Another good source of information on Asian auto markets is the Automotive Resources Asia Ltd., a Bangkok-based division of J.D. Power and Associates with offices in Shanghai and Beijing. I found their "Asian Vehicle Sales" section useful. It's open to the public, but you do need to sign up for free.