Auto sales weakening in July from June

　　China's auto market weakened further in July as rapid sales growth cooled, an industry group reported Monday.

　　Sales declined 11.9 percent from June to 1.2 million vehicles, according to the state-sanctioned China Association of Automobile Manufacturers(CAAM).

　　The slowdown is a setback for global manufacturers such as General Motors, Toyota and Honda that are hoping China will drive sales as demand elsewhere weakens.

　　Chinese vehicle sales are forecast to grow by 20 percent this year but that is down sharply from 2009's breakneck 45 percent rise. July's year-on-year sales growth of 14.4 percent was down from June's increase of 19.4 percent.

　　China passed the United States last year as the biggest auto market on the strength of sales tax cuts, subsidies to rural buyers and incentives to encourage drivers to switch to cleaner vehicles.

　　By People’s Daily Online