Chinese car sales mirror fall in the US

(AFP/ FABRICE COFFRINI)

China's car sales grew at a slower pace in June 2010, rising 10.9 percent year-on-year, according to figures from the China Automotive Technology & Research Center.

The fall echoes that of the US automotive market, which posted positive June gains from the depressed levels of 2009 but a slowdown in growth from May.

Chinese sales were up 25 percent year-on-year in May and 34 percent in April, according to figures reported by Bloomberg.

In Japan, sales rose for the eleventh consecutive month, a 20.6 percent increase from June 2009 which was led by Toyota (up 27 percent) and Honda (up 19 percent).

Figures from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association showed that standard sized vehicles posted larger sales gains than compact cars, although compact cars still accounted for the majority of Japanese sales.

In South Korea, Hyundai posted its third consecutive fall in sales, in sharp contrast to its rival Kia, whose new models boosted growth by 49 percent to sales of 178,391 vehicles.

In India, sales by domestic brand Tata Motors posted a surge of 63 percent, pushing it past Hyundai Motors to become the second largest player in the Indian market.

Maruti Sazuki, India's best selling car brand, increased sales by 18 percent.