Shanghai (ZXZC)- Chinese carmaker Cowin Auto recently revealed part of its product planning for 2019 and reportedly aims to increase the yearly sales by around 48% to 61,700 vehicles this year, according to local media.

The automaker saw the Cowin X5, the first model for its new production base in Yibin, Sichuan Province, officially roll off the production line on January 7, which signals the formal outset of scale vehicle production for the Yibin base.

Covering a total area of 2,500mu (around 1,666,667 square meters), the Yinbin assembly plant features a production capacity of 500,000 vehicles on an annual basis. Of that, the first phase, involving RMB3.3 billion of investment, has an annual capacity of 150,000 units. Currently, Cowin Auto has planned two vehicle platforms—the CF and the CX for the new base to manufacture 7 models covering sedans, SUVs and MPVs.

According to the planning revealed, the automaker is going to launch the refreshed models based on its existing products in the second quarter of the year, and the refreshed model will be upgraded to meet the China's Stage 6 Emission Standard. Besides, an all-new model will be released at the end of 2019 or in early 2020.

Cowin Auto sold a total of 41,556 vehicles throughout 2018. Specifically, annual sales of the X5, the E3 and the X3 amounted to 16,926 units, 12,958 units and 10,125 units respectively.

In terms of sales channels, the number of first-tier dealers of the automaker climbed by 57 to 218 by the end of 2018. As its planning says, Cowin Auto intends to lift the number of first-tier dealers to 318 and increase another 300 second-tier dealers to 700 by 2019.