China auto sales

China auto sales to hit a record 11 million units this year, local press reported on Tuesday as government stimulus measures to encourage purchases.
The prediction came after figures showed strong growth in purchases for the first five months, the China Daily reported, citing the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
Sales of passenger vehicles - including minivans, SUVs (sports utility vehicles and multipurpose transport - hit a record high 812,178 units in May, up 54.7 percent compared to May last year, according to the CPCA data.
Brings total sales of passenger cars in the first five months reached 3.64 million units, up 29.6 percent over the same period a year earlier, data showed.
"The growth in passenger car segment is likely to continue in June to a new record monthly high," said Rao Da, secretary general of CPCA, adding that in the second half is expected to be better than the first six months of the previous year.