Auto production, sales extend weak performance in Oct

SHANGHAI, Nov 12 (SMM) – Sales and production of automobiles in October extended their weak performance from July, showed data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

Last month, production of cars stood at 2.33 million units, down 10.05% from a year ago and down 0.92% from September; sales came in at 2.38 million units, down 11.7% on the year and down 0.58% on the month. 

These lowered domestic auto production and sales in January-October by 0.39% and 0.06% year on year, respectively, to 22.83 million units and 22.87 million units. 

Separately, some 138,000 new-energy vehicles (NEVs) were sold across China in October, an increase of 51% from October 2017, showed CAAM data. 

This grew overall NEVs sales in January-October to 860,000 units, soaring 75.6% on a yearly basis.

Also in October, automakers produced 146,000 NEVs in China, up 58.1% from a year earlier. Overall production in January-October rose 70% from last year, to 879,000 units.