China July auto sales surge 16.4%, marking fourth month of gains
Updated 20:23, 11-Aug-2020
CGTN
Newly manufactured cars are seen at a port in Dalian, Liaoning province, China, April 10, 2020. /Reuters

Newly manufactured cars are seen at a port in Dalian, Liaoning province, China, April 10, 2020. /Reuters

China's auto sales in July climbed 16.4 percent from a year earlier, the fourth consecutive month of gains as the world's biggest vehicle market comes off lows recorded during the country's coronavirus lockdown.

Sales rose to 2.11 million vehicles, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

For the year to date, sales were down 12.7 percent to 12.37 million vehicles.

In July, sales of trucks, vans and other commercial vehicles, which constitute around a quarter of the overall market, surged 59.4 percent, while sales of passenger vehicles rose 8.5 percent.

NEVs sales up 19.3%

Sales of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) in China posted robust growth in July, as the world's largest auto market steadily expands its recovery.

A total of 98,000 NEVs were sold last month, up 19.3 percent year on year, ending 12 straight months of decline. NEVs include battery-powered electric, plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

In the first seven months, 486,000 NEVs were sold, down 32.8 percent year on year.

CAAM data also showed that China's auto market maintained recovery momentum last month, as increasing demand and strengthening incentives have pushed positive market growth.

Automakers that have reported sales growth in July include Great Wall Motor, Geely Automobile and Toyota Motor Corp.

The auto association said last month that China's auto sales are expected to fall between 10 percent and 20 percent this year.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency