China's automobile sales will "definitely break the 10-million-unite barrier" in 2009.

The forecast was based on a robust growth in vehicles sales in May, China Daily quoted China Passenger Car Association as saying Tuesday.

Data released by the association showed that sales of passenger vehicles, including minivans, sports utility vehicles, and multipurpose vehicles reached 812,178 units in May, increasing by a faster-than expected 54.7 percent year-on-year, and up 1.2 percent from April.

Total passenger car sales in the first five months jumped 29.6 percent to 3.64 million unites from the same period last year, according to the association.

Insiders believe China's automobile market is expected to see a new monthly sales record in June, and sales in the second half will be much better than that in the first six months.

"The growth in the passenger car segment will probably continue in June to hit a new monthly record, which will boost the whole-year sales to the 11-million-unite mark," said Rao Da, secretary-general of the association.

Vehicle sales of GM, which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month, roared by 75 percent year-on-year to 156,000 vehicles in May in China's market.

Volkswagen's joint venture FAW-Volkswagen sold 57,928 vehicles, while the German automaker's other joint venture, Shanghai Volkswagen, sold 57,023 unites in May, according to the association.


(Photo: www.chinadaily.com.cn/China Passenger Car Association)

Source:Xinhua