Brilliance-BMW venture eyes expansion

Brilliance China Automotive Holdings and BMW may set up local production of engines for their carmaking joint venture and are mulling exports from their plant in Shenyang, Liaoning, which will more than triple capacity to 300,000 units by 2012. Booming sales of BMWs and minibuses and the disposal of its loss-making Zhonghua brand helped Brilliance swing to a profit of 635.795 million yuan (HK$726.1 million) in the first six months compared with a loss of 787.14 million yuan a year ago. First-half sales from continuing operations nearly doubled to 5.12 billion yuan.