(Yicai Global) Oct. 13 -- China's mainland stock markets gradually moved up in afternoon trading. Shares in carmakers surged approaching the closing bell after the latest sales data showed a sales bonanza over the past month.

The Shanghai Composite Index was 0.04 percent higher at 3,359.75. The Shenzhen Component Index rose to 13,798.58, up 0.66 percent and the ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises listed in Shenzhen, climbed 0.26 percent to 2,784.72.

Carmakers surged 4 percent with several stocks hitting the 10 percent daily limit up, including Great Wall Motor [SHA:601633], which rose to stop trading at CNY24.07 (USD3.58), Chongqing Changan Automobile [SHE:000625] which ended at CNY15.87 and Beiqi Foton Motor [SHA:600166] that stopped at CNY3.03.

China's passenger vehicle retail sales rose by 7.3 percent on the year to 1.91 million units last month as the market’s recovery outstripped expectations and sales of new energy vehicles rose nearly 100 percent from a year earlier to their highest level since June last year, a report the China Passenger Car Association released today shows.

Editor: Ben Armour