Vehicle sales in China jumped 46.4% year-on-year to a record monthly high of 2.03m units in January, according to data issued by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

The January surge, the strongest pace of growth in almost three years, reflects a low base for comparison last year (January last year had five fewer working days due to the lunar new year holiday timings). 

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Market growth is expected to be less spectacular in the coming months with forecasters expecting the light vehicle in China this year to grow by around 10%.

CAAM also said that vehicle output also hit a new high last month, surging 51.2% year-on year to 1.96m units.

A record high of 1.73m passenger vehicles were sold in January, up 48.7% from a year earlier, CAAM figures showed.

See also: Management briefing looking at China

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