China's auto market maintains strong growth in January-May

China's auto production and sales logged double-digit increases in the first five months of the year, a sign of vibrant consumption in the world's second-largest economy.

The country's auto output totaled 12.83 million units during the period, up 12.7 percent from a year ago, while auto sales rose 10.9 percent to 12.75 million units, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said Wednesday.

In particular, new energy vehicles (NEVs) production surged 45.2 percent year on year to nearly 5.7 million units in the first five months, with sales up by 44 percent year on year to 5.61 million units.

NEVs accounted for 44 percent of total new vehicle sales in China during the January-May period, according to the CAAM.

The CAAM saw more vitality in the auto market, boosted by various factors such as the country's stable economic growth, the consumer goods trade-in program, and the introduction of new products by automakers.

In an extended push to encourage consumption, China in January broadened the range of passenger vehicles covered under its trade-in program, which aims to expand domestic demand and support the Chinese economy through equipment upgrades and trade-ins of consumer goods.

Wednesday's data also showed that the country's auto exports climbed 7.9 percent year on year to 2.49 million units in the five-month period. Notably, NEV exports soared 64.6 percent to 855,000 units.