China produced 445,000 cars in 1987, up...

China produced 445,000 cars in 1987, up more than 20% from 369,000 in 1986. The No. 1 vehicle plant in Changchun produced 62,000 trucks, and the No. 2 plant in Hubei 105,000 vehicles.

Domestic sales in the first nine months of 1987 came to 319,000 vehicles, up 40% over the same period in 1986, the official news agency Xinhua said.

Meanwhile, the General Internal Combustion Engine Factory of Beijing has agreed to buy a secondhand assembly line from General Motors Corp. for $16.5 million, Xinhua said.

The line started operation in 1982 with annual production capacity of 300,000 two-liter engines, but was closed in 1984.

It is to start running in Beijing in 1990 and produce 150,000 engines by 1992. China has held many talks with GM about importing technology and equipment to make spare parts, the news agency said.