China's Aug auto sales hit 1.14 mln units, up 82%

Shanghai, September 8 (Gasgoo.com) China's auto sales in August surged 82% from a year earlier to 1.14 million units, but monthly sales dropped to second place behind the U.S. after leading for much of the year, media reported today, citing industry data.

Total sales for the first eight months of 2009 rose nearly 30% from a year earlier to 8.33 million units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), xinhuanet.com said.

China's auto sales, boosted by tax cuts and subsidies as part of the government's stimulus, exceeded 1.1 million units in August for the sixth straight month.

Global automakers are looking to China to drive sales and revenues amid sluggish demand elsewhere. As the most populous nation with 1.3 billion people, China has long been expected to overtake the United States as the world's biggest auto market.

U.S. sales got a temporary boost to 1.3 million units in August from Washington's "Cash for Clunkers" subsidies for trading in older cars. But industry analysts say that surge could quickly subside after subsidies end, according to the AP report.

For the first eight months, China still leads in total sales (with 8.33 million units), the United States in second place with 7.1 million units sold.