Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news

The Shanghai 2005 Auto show is proving to be a big hit, with nearly 200,000 visitors in the first three days of the show, scheduled to run from April 22 to April 28 at the New International Expo Center in Pudong, the Youth Post reported yesterday.
The show, which is held every two years and is being staged for the 11th time in Shanghai, has signed up 1,036 automakers and parts suppliers, 41 percent more than the previous show in 2003, and the display area has grown by half to 120,000 square meters.
The number of visitors reached a peak of 86,000 on April 24, the first day for regular visitors, said an employee with the Shanghai New International Expo Center.
A total of 460,000 visited the weeklong Beijing auto show last year, and between 300,000 and 400,000 people are expected to visit the Shanghai event this year, said Tang Guifa, president with the Shanghai International Exhibition Co Ltd, one of the producers of the event.
Although the domestic car market shows no signs of recovery, the show has both interested and pleased automakers. Tens of buyers have booked Volvo sedans, and many are interested in domestic cars.
A lady planning to buy a Toyota Camry sedan with 2.4L engine observed: "There are many cars in the same price range available for purchase."
Both sales and production of domestic economy sedans increased last month.