CHINA'S passenger car sales grew 31 percent in January from a year earlier, the fastest growth in nine months, as automakers cut prices to make cars affordable to more people.

Sales of passenger cars, multipurpose vehicles and sport-utility vehicles in China rose to 552,500 units last month, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said in an e-mailed statement today. Production expanded 44 percent last month to 567,500 units from a year earlier.

China's carmakers, led by General Motors Corp's Shanghai joint venture, are adding new models and cutting prices to expand sales in the world's second-largest auto market after the United States.

China's passenger car sales rose 30 percent last year, exceeding the 25 percent growth for total vehicle sales, according to the association.

Shanghai General Motors Co in January cut the prices of its Chevrolet Lova and Aveo compact cars by as much as 10 percent to boost sales. The price of Lovas fell by a maximum 9,900 yuan (US$1,300), while Aveos dropped by as much as 8,000 yuan. FAW Toyota Motor Sales Co lowered prices for its Land Cruiser and Prado SUVs by 40,000 yuan from January 1. Shanghai GM sold 37,300 passenger cars in January, followed by Shanghai Volkswagen Co's 34,300 units.

Shanghai GM, Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co and Dongfeng Yueda Kia Motors Co added three passenger car models last month.

The nation's total vehicle sales increased 34 percent to 717,100 units, while production rose 45 percent to 761,900 units last month.

Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd, a Chinese partner of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, reported the fastest vehicle sales growth last month, the association said. The company sold 23,800 vehicles in January.

Source:佚名