In the first half of 2009, China's automobile industry showed a vigorous situation in both production and sales. With a half-year sales volume of 6.0988 million vehicles, China topped the world in automobile sales. As an important part of the automobile industry chain, the tire industry also ushered in the "spring" of industrial development, and achieved a great increase in the second quarter compared to the same period last year. Ms. Tan Yukun, Deputy Secretary General of the Tire Branch of China Rubber Industry Association, said that "in the first half of the year, the capacity utilization rate of quite a number of tire enterprises reached 85% of the same period last year; some enterprises even exceeded the highest historical level and were producing at full capacity."