One reason was that he expected an increase in auto production.

But China's auto production has been growing at an annual rate of 17 percent since 1979.

An improving trade situation and strong auto production were given credit for the increase.

Michigan's Detroit area became the center of auto production, with plants throughout the region.

The plant, which opened in 1970, became the linchpin of Soviet auto production.

Economists had predicted a good showing based on increased auto production.

Auto production also rose last month, jumping 17.5 percent from February, to 220,000 vehicles.

The normal and sustainable level of auto production is a lot higher than we had previously imagined.

International China is rushing ahead to double auto production to three million vehicles a year by the end of the decade.

"We get Boeing orders daily and auto production has been on the increase to catch up with demand."