Beijing, August 9 (Xinhua) — Data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers on the 9th shows that in July, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles maintained relatively rapid growth, reaching 984,000 and 991,000 units respectively, up 22.3% and 27% year on year, with new energy vehicle sales accounting for 43.8% of total new vehicle sales.

From January to July, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 5.914 million and 5.934 million units respectively, up 28.8% and 31.1% year on year. Among the main categories of new energy vehicles, compared with the same period last year, production and sales of the three major categories — battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles — all showed growth to varying degrees.

In addition, in July China's automobile production and sales reached 2.286 million and 2.262 million units respectively, down 4.8% and 5.2% year on year. From January to July, China's automobile production and sales reached 16.179 million and 16.31 million units respectively, up 3.4% and 4.4% year on year.

From January to July, the top ten enterprises (groups) by automobile sales sold a total of 13.803 million vehicles, accounting for 84.6% of total automobile sales. Among the top ten enterprises by automobile sales, compared with the same period last year, sales of SAIC Motor, China FAW, GAC Group, and BAIC Group declined to varying degrees, while sales of the other enterprises all grew to varying degrees, with Chery Holding recording the most notable growth.

Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said that strengthened policies at the national level will further unleash replacement demand in the existing market, and that, combined with automakers' continuous launch of new models and multi-level measures such as some local governments relaxing purchase restrictions and increasing quota allocations, this will help achieve the full-year expected targets.