Data shows that China's automobile exports have begun to recover. But the Ministry of Commerce says auto companies need to shift their focus from sales volumes to long term planning in order to maintain export growth.

Figures from Tianjin Customs show that export volume of automobiles through the port dropped in July, August and September year on year, but that the decrease shrank each consecutive month. In Hebei Province, some auto export companies say business has picked up since August this year. One of the companies said its export volume hit 34 million US dollars in October, 18 percent down from the same period last year, but nearly 30 percent up from the previous month.

Liu Baoxing, GM of Lizhong Wheel Group said "The global financial crisis has hit our company's exports severely. Export volume fell around 30 percent in the first ten months this year from a year earlier. But currently, we have enough orders."

But some companies have expressed concern that as exports recover, more and more domestic auto manufacturers will flood the market. This creates a lack of organization which is not good for exports.

The Ministry of Commerce says the country must try to clean up its system for exporting cars.

Zhang Ji, Director of Department of Mechanic, Electronic, Hi-tech Industry, MOFCOM said "China's automobiles are exported to more than 200 countries and regions, but half of the cars go to 20 countries and regions. That means that a large number of Chinese auto companies are exporting, but there is no unified planning."

Some companies say as the financial crisis hurt exports, they have begun to seek out opportunities in other markets.