China Now Largest Auto Market - 92% rise in one month

China supplanted the U.S. as the world's largest auto market after its 2009 vehicle sales jumped 46 percent, ending more than a century of American dominance that started with the Model T Ford.

The nation's sales of passenger cars, buses and trucks rose to 13.6 million, the fastest pace in at least 10 years, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. In the U.S., sales slumped 21 percent to 10.4 million, the fewest since 1982, according to Autodata Corp.

"China is becoming the center stage of development for the 21st century global auto industry," said Bill Russo, a Beijing- based senior adviser at Booz & Co., which advises automakers. "Economic growth has directly translated into growth in automobile sales."

December sales of passenger cars, trucks and buses rose 92 percent to 1.4 million. For the whole of 2009, passenger-car sales rose 53 percent to 10.3 million. Read more from Bloomberg

Also -  China is now the world’s biggest exporter as exports exceeded $1.2 trillion, edging out Germany. Exports rose in China by 17% over that last year, beating foreign estimates by fourfold (up 55% in 2009). Australia is now China's No. 1 trading partner