China auto sales surge in July, log fourth straight month of gains

A worker checks a vehicle at an auto plant in Changchun, Jilin province, July 3, 2020. -Photo/Xinhua

BEIJING/SHANGHAI: China's auto sales in July climbed 16.4% from a year earlier, the fourth consecutive month of gains as the world's biggest vehicle market comes off lows hit during the country's coronavirus lockdown.

Sales rose to 2.11 million vehicles in July but are still down 12.7% for the year to date at 12.37 million vehicles, according to wholesale sales data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).