China auto sales slow in April: Report

BEIJING: China's auto sales hit the brakes in April compared with the previous month as robust demand for vehicles in the world's top market eased, according to figures released by an industry group on Monday.

Vehicle sales in April rose 34 percent year-on-year to 1.56 million units, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

The growth rate was slower than the 55.8 percent on year increase in March to 1.74 million units. Sales in the January-April period rose 61 percent to 6.17 million units, the association said.

Passenger vehicle sales rose 33 percent on-year last month to 1.11 million units, compared with an increase of 63.2 percent in March. Compared with March, overall auto sales in April fell 10 percent and passenger vehicle sales dropped 12 percent, the association said.

China's auto sales hit 13.64 million units in 2009, overtaking the United States to make the country the world's top auto market as Beijing offered incentives such as lower taxes to boost the sector.