China Auto Production Tops U.S., Group Says

China passed the United States last year to become the world’s second largest auto-producing nation behind Japan, according to a California research firm.

China made manufactured 9.3 million cars in 2008, while the United States built 8.7 million, according to iSuppli Corp., El Segundo, Calif., which supplies market information to original equipment manufacturers.

This year, China will build 8.7 million autos and top Japan as the world’s No. 1 automaker, iSuppi said.

In 2009, China will build 8.7 million autos, topping Japan’s 7.6 million, and in the past five years, China more than doubled its automobile production, while U.S. manufacturing declined by nearly 50%, the group said.