Auto sales may top 10m units this year

China's booming automobile market is expected to break the 10-million-unit in sales barrier this year, as the government's positive measures drive demand and revive consumer confidence, an industry body said yesterday.

China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) has upgraded its forecast for this year's automobile sales to 10.2 million units, with year-on-year growth rate of 8.7 percent, up from the 5 percent projection earlier this year, said Dong Yang, its deputy director.

The passenger car segment is expected to grow by 10.2 percent while commercial vehicle sales are likely to increase by 5 percent this year, Dong said.