Vehicle sales advanced for a 4th straight month in China. Sales of passenger cars increased 15% in July from a year earlier to 2.08 million, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. From January to July, vehicle sales declined by 13% to 12.3 million units.
Shoppers in the world’s largest car market are slowly resuming buying as the government eases restrictions, raising expectations that the auto slump currently in its third year may be nearing an end. Yet challenges remain: ride-hailing apps are reducing the need for personal ownership, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war threats pose complications for economic recovery.