Amount of accounts and notes payable arising from transactions with related parties due within one year.

No definition available.

Name:	caas_AccountsAndNotesPayableRelatedPartiesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of accounts and notes receivable net to be collected from related parties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_AccountsAndNotesReceivableNetRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of advance payments and others to be collected from related parties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_AdvancePaymentsAndOthersRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the reporting date of advance payments for property, plant and equipment - related parties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_AdvancePaymentsForPropertyPlantAndEquipmentRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, advance amounts from related parties including affiliates, employees, joint ventures, officers and stockholders, immediate families thereof, and pension funds.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_AdvancesPaymentsFromRelated
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The noncurrent portion of the receivable other than from customers, that is amounts expected to be collected from related parties after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_AdvancesToRelatedPartiesNetNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the value of assets sold to related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_AssetsSoldToRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_RelatedAdvancesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_RelatedPayablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_RelatedPurchasesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_RelatedReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caas_RelatedSalesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	caas_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, amounts due from related parties including affiliates, employees, joint ventures, officers and stockholders, immediate families thereof, and pension funds.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(3))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DueFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Purchases during the period (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionPurchasesFromRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=caas_RelatedPartyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesInventoryAxis=us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesInventoryRawMaterialsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=caas_RentalIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_TechnologyEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_EquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=caas_MaterialsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=caas_AdvancedEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=caas_MerchandiseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=caas_ServiceAndOtherPurchasedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=caas_OtherReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_AccountsPayableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=caas_OtherAdvancePaymentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Related party transactions and balances (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Related receivables
Accounts and notes receivable from related parties	$ 27,003		$ 27,003		$ 22,760
Other receivables from related parties	19		19		76
Total	27,022		27,022		22,836
Related advances
Advanced equipment payment to related parties	2,693		2,693		2,085
Advanced payments and others to related parties	784		784		741
Total	3,477		3,477		2,826
Related payables
Accounts payable	5,198		5,198		4,857
Related Party [Member]
Related sales
Merchandise sold to related parties	12,226	$ 14,928	20,987	$ 26,738
Related purchases
Related parties	6,739	7,869	16,209	16,070
Related Party [Member] \| Raw Materials And Others [Member]
Related sales
Merchandise sold to related parties	563	0	992	0
Related Party [Member] \| Rental Income [Member]
Related sales
Merchandise sold to related parties	23	0	56	0
Technology Equipment [Member] \| Related Party [Member]
Related purchases
Related parties	147	72	147	164
Equipment [Member] \| Related Party [Member]
Related purchases
Related parties	826	336	3,070	1,254
Materials [Member] \| Related Party [Member]
Related purchases
Related parties	5,630	7,461	12,638	14,652
Advanced Equipment [Member] \| Related Party [Member]
Related advances
Advanced equipment payment to related parties	2,693		2,693		2,085
Merchandise [Member] \| Related Party [Member]
Related sales
Merchandise sold to related parties	11,640	14,928	19,939	26,738
Other purchased [Member] \| Related Party [Member]
Related purchases
Related parties	136	$ 0	354	$ 0
Accounts Receivable [Member] \| Related Party [Member]
Related receivables
Accounts and notes receivable from related parties	27,003		27,003		22,760
Other Receivables [Member] \| Related Party [Member]
Related receivables
Other receivables from related parties	19		19		76
Accounts Payable [Member]
Related payables
Accounts payable	5,198		5,198		4,857
Other Advance Payments [Member] \| Related Party [Member]
Related advances
Advanced payments and others to related parties	$ 784		$ 784		$ 741