This makes China the third country in the world to annually produce 10 million vehicles, following only the U.S. and Japan. Zhang Dejiang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, sent a congratulatory letter.

Zhang wrote in the letter that the automobile industry is an important pillar industry of the national economy. Under the correct leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, generations of cadres and workers on the frontline of the automobile industry have exerted great and consistent efforts to achieve remarkable progress, making China's automobile industry grow from nothing to become increasingly strong. China's automobile industry has faced severe challenges since the outbreak of the international financial crisis last year, leading to the timely introduction of an adjustment and rejuvenation plan and a series of supporting policies for the automobile industry. The industry has carefully implemented the plan and policies, transformed challenges into opportunities, and pushed forward against setbacks, outshining many of its global counterparts and maintaining a strong development momentum.

Zhang said that the 10 millionth vehicle coming off the production line marks China's transformation into a global vehicle production power, and a new step forward for the Chinese automobile industry, indicating an important milestone in the history of China's automobile industry. This is of significant importance in promoting stable and rapid economic development and strengthening the confidence of Chinese society in overcoming the impact of the international financial crisis.

FAW general-manager Xu Jianyi said at the celebration ceremony that from the production of the first Jiefang truck in 1956 to the 10 millionth vehicle coming off the production line, China has not only ended a history of having no vehicle production capacity, but also created a miracle in global automobile history.

According to sources, China's annual automobile production capacity first exceeded one million in 1992. By 2000, China was already producing over two million vehicles. After China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, the development of the automobile market further accelerated. Between 2002 and 2007, China's national automobile market grew by an average 21 percent, or one million vehicles year-on-year. In 2006, China’s vehicle production capacity successively exceeded six, then seven million, and in 2007, China produced over eight million automobiles. China is expected to produce over 13 million vehicles in 2009, becoming the world's largest automobile producer and consumer.