A model stands next to a Ford Motor Co vehicle at an auto show in Chongqing on June 6.The company's sales in China surged 32 percent year-on-year to 93,323 units in May. Provided to China Daily

Passenger vehicle sales in China near 1.6m units, highest rate this year

China's passenger vehicle sales accelerated in May with the highest monthly rate this year, indicating further growth in the domestic market this year.

On Tuesday, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported that sales in May were up 8.50 percent from a year earlier, after dipping 4.64 percent from the previous month, as overall sales reached 1.91 million units.

The nation sold 1.59 million passenger vehicles in May, representing robust 13.85 percent year-on-year growth, the association said.

Total sales of 8.07 million passenger vehicles were recorded in the first five months, with 11.13 percent annual growth, a remarkable recovery from near stagnancy the previous two years.

Multipurpose vehicles and sport utility vehicles maintained their leadership in the increase, with 56.36 percent and 37.54 percent annual growth from January to May, and sedan sales jumped 5.38 percent from a year earlier, according to the association.

"The strong sales demand in May can be attributed to the enthusiasm brought by the Beijing auto show in April, which introduced hundreds of new models to local consumers," said Rao Da, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association.

"The panic consumption from more cities' limiting vehicle purchases and the cooling real estate market also helped maintain the trend and will support it in the following months," he said.

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