BEIJING - China's auto exports in July hit a record high amid further market recovery, industry data has shown.

Chinese carmakers exported about 174,000 vehicles last month, up 180 percent year-on-year and 9.8 percent month-on-month, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

New energy vehicles contributed 31.5 percent of the total exports in July, CAAM data showed.

From January to July, over 1 million vehicles were exported, up 120 percent year-on-year.

China's auto sales rose 19.3 percent year-on-year to nearly 14.76 million units in the first seven months of 2021, earlier CAAM data showed.