China's auto market posts strong growth in H1

BEIJING -- China's auto production and sales logged double-digit increases in the first half of the year, a sign of vibrant domestic consumption in the world's second-largest economy, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed on Thursday.

The country's auto output totaled 15.62 million units during the period, up 12.5 percent from a year ago, while auto sales rose 11.4 percent to 15.65 million units.

In particular, new energy vehicle production surged 41.4 percent year-on-year to nearly 6.97 million units in the first six months, with sales up by 40.3 percent year-on-year to about 6.94 million units.