(Yicai Global) Aug. 10 -- China’s passenger car sales declined 6.2 percent in July from a year earlier, even though sales of new energy vehicles jumped more than two and a half times, as the global chip shortage hampers output and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic brings uncertainties to the international market.

The country sold 1.5 million passenger vehicles last month, the China Passenger Car Association said today. Joint ventures FAW-Volkswagen Automotive, SAIC Volkswagen Automotive and SAIC General Motors were the best sellers.

Some 222,000 electric cars were shifted in July. BYD sold the most with 50,387 units, Tesla shifted 32,968 vehicles and SAIC-GM-Wuling came third with 27,347 units.

In the seven months ended July 31, some 11.4 million autos were shipped, a 22.9 percent gain from the same period last year, largely due to the low base during the pandemic. Of this, 1.2 million units were NEVs, triple the amount sold year on year.

Chinese brands did particularly well, jumping 20 percent to 640,000 units thanks to a resilient industrial chain which found ways around the chip shortage. Sales at BYD, GAC Aion New Energy Automobile and China Chang'an Automobile Group grew significantly.

Sales of luxury vehicles were down 18 percent year on year to 200,000 units.

China exported 128,000 passenger vehicles in July, more than triple the amount from a year earlier. NEVs accounted for 20 percent of the exports. Tesla exported 24,347 cars, Shanghai-based SAIC 4,407, Shenzhen-based BYD 781 and Chery Automobile 120 autos.

The continued holdups to production due to chip shortages and the sporadic Covid-19 outbreaks last month will increase pressure on auto supply in August and affect car sales in some areas, the CPCA said.

Editor: Kim Taylor