With the Chery deal, Chrysler sees its sales outside North America doubling over the next four to five years, as it branches out from the NAFTA region, its home market.

That development path has helped many local automakers expand rapidly to where they now account for around a quarter of China's car sales - a market that roared ahead at 30 percent last year - and could capture a 40 percent share within four years.

Price will continue to be a key selling point for Chinese automakers.

Zhongxing Automobile is planning to export 50,000 pickups and SUVs to Mexico this year as a springboard to break into the U.S. market within two years. The vehicles will on average be a fifth cheaper than comparably equipped brand-name competitors.