(ECNS) -- China's automotive industry attracted global attentions and achieved high growth last year, Xin Guobin, vice minister of China’s Industry and Information Technology said at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.

China shipped 4.91 million vehicles overseas in 2023, up 57.9 percent year on year, becoming the world's largest auto exporter for the first time, Xin said.

Chinese auto manufactures exported 1.203 million NEV units, an increase of 77.6 percent over the same period last year. The sales of batteries came in at 127.4 GWh last year, up 87.1 percent year on year.

The "new three items" -- new-energy vehicle, lithium battery and solar panels, highlighted China's booming manufacturing development.