The booming demand for motor vehicles in China has made China the most rapidly growing automotive market in the world. The entry of China into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is expected to accelerate the trend. Although often well established in China before WTO entry, the world’s large vehicle manufacturers have responded to Chinese WTO membership by establishing additional joint ventures and new assembly plants and by the launch of new models. This study analyses the Chinese automotive market prior to WTO entry and forecasts future market trends as impacted by China’s recent entry into the WTO.