Dongfeng Motor says emission rule slows July sales

Dongfeng Motor Group (0489), China's third-largest automaker, said its vehicle sales growth slowed to a single-digit rate in July as stricter emission standards curbed truck sales.

The firm moved 71,854 vehicles in July, up 3.37 percent from a year earlier, with sales of passenger cars rising 18.46 percent but sales of commercial vehicles down 26.31 percent.

A Dongfeng executive blamed the weak truck sales last month on the introduction of Euro III emission standards on July 1, which spurred customers to make purchases before then.

Vehicle sales in the first seven months rose 24.54 percent year on year.