BEIJING — China's auto sales rose 8.7 percent year-on-year to 18.62 million units in the first nine months of 2021, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed on Oct 12.

Sales of passenger vehicles increased 11 percent year-on-year to 14.86 million units in the January-September period, according to the data.

In September alone, auto sales totaled about 2.07 million units, down 19.6 percent year-on-year.