The world's car giants go head-to-head as the Frankfurt Motor Show opens to the public. Flaunting the latest releases, the show is a tapestry of hybrid and concept designs from some of the most illustrious marques. But while the German city plays host to glitz and glamor, manufacturers are eyeing a burgeoning class of car buyers more than 6,000 miles away in China, where 200 million cars now run on the country's ever-congested roads. The world's largest car market, China is the major battleground for European companies in the 21st century, as premium brands look to exploit a growing population of 1.3 billion people.
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China car sales increasing 11% in August year on year, according to the state-backed manufacturers association
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China's car market will almost match the combined size of the U.S. and western European market by 2019
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U.S. auto giants Ford and General Motors have reported record sales increases in China for the month of August
With European sales in decline and the @placeholder market only slowly recovering, China represents a beacon of steady growth at a time of economic uncertainty.