Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile Co. will make efforts to export at least 171,000 units this year, said Jin Yibo, a company spokesman.

Chery's worldwide sales reached 17,412 units in April, up 39.1 percent year on year and 40.1 percent from March. Exports are expected to exceed 20,000 units in May, said Jin.

The company, based in east China's Anhui Province, has 16 production bases around the world and its products have been exported to more than 80 countries and regions. In 2011, Chery exported a record 160,200 vehicles, maintaining its status as a leading auto exporter in China.

Chery recently had many new moves in its worldwide expansion. In March, Chery and Indian-owned luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover announced they had reached an agreement on setting up a joint venture in China, and the two sides will hold equal shares. Chery opened a plant in Venezuela last August and has another plant under construction in Brazil, which is expected to start operations in 2013. It also announced plans to build assembly plants in Myanmar and several African countries.