BEIJING — China's auto sales rose 13.7 percent year-on-year to 16.56 million units in the first eight months of 2021, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed on Sept 10.

Sales of passenger vehicles increased 16 percent year-on-year to 13.11 million units between January and August.

In August alone, auto sales totaled nearly 1.8 million units, down 17.8 percent year-on-year.

Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China hit a record high of 321,000 units last month, up 180 percent year-on-year.

In the eight-month period, NEV sales surged 190 percent year-on-year to 1.8 million units, the data showed.

China's auto export increased 130 percent from a year earlier to 1.19 million units in the January-August period.

According to the data, the country's auto production rose 11.9 percent year-on-year to 16.17 million units in the first eight months.

China's economy is expected to remain generally stable in the fourth quarter of this year, underpinning stable demand for auto consumption, the CAAM said.

CAAM, however, added that it is optimistic but cautious about the future of the auto industry, considering chip shortage due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases overseas and increasing cost pressure of automakers.