Homegrown brands to launch latest cars

China's homegrown brands are set to provide some highlights at the Chengdu auto show as they exhibit their latest models, underlining progress with homegrown brands.

Zhejiang Geely's first mid-sized SUV model GX9 will be introduced to the market at the Chengdu event.

Changan Automobile, which sold the most sedans among homegrown auto brands in the first seven months of 2014, also sees its Alsvin V7 sedan model make its debut in Chengdu.

The new BAIC Group sedan model, the Aero D60, is scheduled to hit the market during the auto show.

Though China's own auto brands are making progress in products and brand recognition, they are facing increasing competition from foreign brands as they continue to reduce prices and roll out cheaper models.

In July, homegrown auto brands sold 151,400 units of sedans, down 22.66 percent year-on-year.

The sales account for 17.7 percent of China's overall sedan market - the first time it has dropped below 20 percent since the data was monitored by the CAAM in 2008.

"Homegrown auto brands have rolled out many new products in the past years, but few of them can really attract the consumers," Wu Shuocheng, an analyst at consultancy Menutor Consulting Shanghai Co, told the Global Times.

He noted that it is hard to see any major breakthrough in domestic brands' competitiveness in the near future.

"It might take decades," he said.