New-car sales spike in January

Retail sales of new passenger vehicles across China rallied 57 percent to approach 2.04 million last month, the China Automobile Dealers Association said Thursday. 

The surge in sales reflected a wave of purchases ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday, which starts on February 10, the trade group said. Last year, the holiday began on January 21.

Deliveries of crossovers and SUVs spiked 67 percent to 1.04 million in January, while demand for multipurpose vehicles rose 51 percent to around 92,000.

Sedan sales climbed 49 percent to some 905,000 during the month. 

Deliveries of full-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids jumped 77 percent and 147 percent, respectively, to roughly 376,000 and 291,000 last month. 

Aggregate sales at Chinese brands, the main producers of electrified vehicles, surged 77 percent to 1.12 million last month. 

Total deliveries of global mass-market marques producing in China jumped 43 percent to some 670,000.

Demand for luxury brands also rose 30 percent to about 240,000.