Car Sales in China Climb 8%

Demand for passenger vehicles in China rose to 1.71 million units last month from 1.58 million in March 2013, according to the state-supported China Assn. of Automobile Manufacturers.

Total vehicle sales, which include buses and commercial vehicles, grew nearly 7% to 2.17 million vehicles in March. CAAM says volume in the first quarter of 2014 advanced 9% to 5.92 million.

The association notes that domestic brands accounted for 39% of sales, marking their seventh consecutive month of shrinkage.