Telco giant Telstra plans to float a Chinese website billed as the world’s most visited car classifieds site on the New York Stock Exchange.

Autohome, which was set up in June 2005, attracts 80 million users a month in China, the world’s largest car market.

Telstra recently increased its stake in Autohome from 66 per cent to 71.5 per cent, and describes the business as a strategic Asian investment.

Chief executive David Thodey on Tuesday announced Telstra had filed a registration statement to list Autohome in New York.

“Asia is a region of significant opportunity for Telstra but should not be viewed as a single homogenous market,” he said.

“We believe there are opportunities to be explored in various geographies and various industry segments but we need to make sure we are focused on the right assets.”

Telstra International president Tim Chen, who is based in Hong Kong, is also the chairman of Autohome, and will remain the chairman after its public listing.

Last month, Telstra’s chief financial officer Andrew Penn announced he would work with Mr Thodey and Mr Chen to bolster the group’s Asia strategy.

Revenue in Telstra’s international businesses grew by 16.2 per cent, or $243 million, to $1.7 billion during the 2012/13 financial year.

During that time, revenue in Autohome rose by 73.8 per cent and its goodwill was valued at $108 million on June 30.

Telstra’s international portfolio also includes Hong Kong mobile network company CSL New World, Telstra’s global mobile phone network and four Chinese language classifieds websites, including Autohome.

Telstra shares closed flat at $5.14.