China's motor manufacturers are taking women's needs into greater consideration as women play a bigger role in deciding what car their family should buy.

A woman surnamed Zhang in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin Province, decided to buy a Polo made by Shanghai Volkswagen after weeks of consideration and comparison.

"It is fashionable, economical and easy to drive," she said.

Xu Minfu, a car dealer from the Changchun Jinpeng Co, said: "Women who do the buying or make the decision as to what brand to buy are usually office workers."

The Tianjin Automobile Industry Corp launched a new model in January that has more space under the seat for women drivers who wear high-heeled shoes.

Liang Xiaomei, of the marketing department of First Automotive Works, said: "Women call the shots on the family car purchases and this may bring car producers more opportunities."

A car dealer surnamed Zhao said cars aimed at women must be graceful and modern, have efficient fule consumption, comfortable seats and be easy to drive.

The Shanghai Volkswagen Polo, the Dongfeng Group's Little Prince and the Chang'an Group's City Baby models all target women.

The first quarter of this year saw robust growth in the number of private cars, with more than 800,000 sold. There are now about 10 million private cars in China.

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