September growth ends five-month losing streak for China car sales

September car sales hit 2.02 million units in China, up 2.08% from the same month last year and ending five months of falling vehicle sales, Agence France-Presse reported, citing figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Sport utility vehicles drove gains with sales that surged 58.79% for the period to 566,000 vehicles. The State Council also cut purchase taxes by half on small-engine passenger cars starting this month in an attempt to support the sector. “With the efforts of the entire industry and … the policy of the State Council, it is possible that we can realize 3% growth this year,” said Dong Yang, the association’s secretary general.