International automakers are gathering in China for its Shanghai auto show. Under the financial crisis and the declining market in the auto industry, China has become the only growing car market in the world.

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The biennial Shanghai Auto Show, which opens Monday to media and on Wednesday to the public, is expected to feature an unprecedented number of new vehicle launches, reflecting the growing importance of this market for automakers everywhere.

It follows on the heels of Sunday’s Formula One Grand Prix — another Shanghai event symbolizing the city’s obsession with cars.