China's auto companies exported 308,000 vehicles in August, a surge of 65 percent from last year to hit another record high, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) showed on Friday.

Auto exports rose 6.2 percent in August from a month earlier. Of the total, the export of passenger cars rose 68.7 percent year on year to 260,000 units, while new energy vehicle (NEV) exports jumped 82.3 percent to 83,000 units, sustaining an upbeat growth momentum.

In the first eight months of the year, China's auto exports hit 1.81 million, an increase of 52.8 percent year on year. NEV exports alone almost doubled during that time, rising 97.4 percent to 340,000 units.

The world's biggest auto market suffered from heat wave-induced power rationing and pandemic disruptions in August, and the production and sales of vehicles dropped, down by 2.4 and 1.5 percent, respectively.

However, 691,000 NEVs were produced and 666,000 were sold in August, an increase of 1.2 times and 1 time, respectively. 

Meanwhile, China issued 19 new measures to support economic growth at the end of August, benefiting auto industry's growth.

Assistant commerce minister Li Fei said at a press conference this month that the ministry will continue to work with relevant departments to support NEV companies' building of overseas after-sales service networks and push brand promotions.

The ministry will also work on expanding export transportation channels, such as carrying NEVs with China-Europe freight trains, Li added.

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