Robust growth in China's vehicle production and sales continued in the first month of 2010 to sustain last year's record-setting momentum

According to the latest statistics from the China Associations of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), 1.61 million vehicles were produced in January, an increase of 5.04 percent, while auto sales in the nation reached 1.66 million units, a surge of 16.83 percent over December.

Compared to the same month in 2009, January's production and sales were red-hot - up a respective 143 percent and 124 percent year-on-year.

In the passenger vehicle market, monthly production and sales hit a respective 1.24 million and 1.31 million units, rising 4 percent and 18 percent from December last year. Both were new records.

Homegrown brands played an increasingly important role in passenger vehicle sales as they moved 677,400 units in January to account for 49 percent of the segment.

Sales of domestic-brand sedans hit 323,000 units to take 35 percent of the market.

The BYD F3, FAW-Volkswagen Jetta, Tianjin FAW Xiali, Beijing Hyundai Elantra Yuedong, Buick Excelle, Chery QQ, Shanghai Volkswagen Lavida, Brilliance Junjie, Beijing Hyundai Elantra and FAW-Volkswagen Bora were the top 10 sellers in the January passenger car market. Their combined sales reached 221,900 units, accounting for 24 percent of the market.

Production of commercial vehicles rose 7 percent to 370,800 units while sales reached 348,200 vehicles, a 12 percent increase from the previous month.

Compared to January 2009, production and sales soared 180 percent and 177 percent year-on-year.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) led the industry with sales of 306,700 units, followed by Chang'an, FAW, Dongfeng, Beijing Automotive, Chery, Guangzhou Automotive, BYD, Jianghuai and Brilliance. The top 10 together sold 1.44 million vehicles, or 87 percent of the January total in China.