More than 200 new vehicles will be displayed at 2011 Beijing import auto expo which is scheduled to be held from Oct 31 to Nov 6, organizer has said.

The exhibition to be held at the China National Convention Center covers a floor space of 26,000 square meters. Organizer said that leading car makers such as Mercedes Benz and BMW have shown willingness to join the expo.

The expo aims to provide a platform for high-end auto and facilitate the exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and overseas car makers, said Shen Jinjun, deputy chairman of the China Automobile Dealers Association.

China overtook the United States to become the world's largest auto market last year on the back of growing middle class.

Comparing with 8.1 percent growth of homegrown vehicles, the number of import auto rose 42 percent year on year to 234,000 units in the first quarter this year, according to customs data.

China's import auto market would post steady growth in 2011 boosted by consistent demand and consumer's need to upgrade their old sets, said a report released by the China Automobile Trading Co, Ltd.

Since major metro-cities would implement more rigid emission rules, the second and third-tier cities would become emerging market for import cars, it said.