BEIJING -- Automobile sales rose 24.5 percent year-on-year to reach 1.57 million units in February this year, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said Friday.

Automobile output rose 28.5 percent from a year earlier to 1.61 million units in the month, the CAAM said.

However, total sales for the first two months dropped 6 percent year-on-year to 2.95 million units, while output declined 4.9 percent to 2.9 million units.

The figures were dragged down by slack sales in January, as most Chinese worked fewer days in January as a result of the week-long Spring Festival holiday.

In January, auto sales plunged 26.4 percent year-on-year to 1.39 million units, while output slumped 27.47 percent to 1.3 million units.

In the first two months, passenger vehicle sales dropped 4.37 percent year-on-year to 2.37 million units, while sales of commercial vehicles dropped 11.91 percent to 580,600 units, according to the CAAM.

China's auto export maintained the momentum of steady growth, the association said.

Exports of finished automobiles surged 41.1 percent year-on-year in January to 61,200 units, which brought total exports in the first two months to 117,500 units, up 23.5 percent year-on-year.

The 10 biggest automakers sold 541,500 vehicles in February, accounting for 65.38 percent of the total. Shanghai GM, Shanghai Volkswagen and Jilin-based FAW were the top three sellers.

China is the world's largest auto market, with last year's automobile sales reaching 18.50 million units and 2011's output topping 18.42 million units.