China auto sales surge

Xinhua
According to the China Passenger Car Association, auto sales in China will "definitely break the 10-million-unit barrier" in 2009. This following a robust surge in auto sales for the month of May to 812,178 passenger vehicle units, including minivans, sports utility vehicles, and multipurpose vehicles. Sales jumped by a faster-than-expected 54.7 percent year-on-year, and up a slight 1.2 percent from April.

China also has, for the fifth consecutive month, beaten the US as the world's largest automobile market. While General Motors has filed for bankruptcy in the US, it's Chinese branch reported a 75% surge in auto sales. Its minivan joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling sold 100,258 units last month.