China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said on Friday that passenger vehicles (including sedans, MPV,SUV and other cross passenger cars) in the country posted significant sales growth in September after two consecutive months’ sales slowdown, Shanghai Securities News reported today.

American Automotive, a Greenwich, Conn.-based company, signed a contract today to team with three German technology-supporting companies. The tie-up will offer "professional and one-stop" service that helps Chinese automakers to sell cars in North America and other overseas markets.

The sales of passenger vehicles in China have dropped for five straight months, and in this late summer all Chinese automaker have felt the cold spells affecting the auto market. With the auto sales peak in March far behind, the ordeal for China's auto industry has just begun. All automakers are wondering how to weather the more severe winter this year.

China vehicle sales may fall short of a sales forecast of 10 million units this year as consumers' buying power are undermined by slowing economic growth and the slumping stock market, said xinhuanet.com yesterday, citing an industry association.

China Association of Automobile Manufacturers has unveiled the top 10 commercial vehicle sellers in the Chinese market between January and August.

General Motors dealers in the United States delivered 308,817 vehicles in August, making it GM's best monthly total, retail and fleet sales performance so far in 2008. The strong showing was spurred by GM's Employee Discount for Everyone sale in celebration of GM's Centennial later this month.

GM Certified Used Vehicles Teams with SiSTeR Technologies to Add Video to Online Vehicle Listings

Higher demand for the fuel-efficient Ford Focus and Ford Escape continued in August, as consumers continued moving to smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

All the listed auto-making companies in China have released their first-half profit reports. Except FAW Car (000800.SZ), all other automakers have seen a downward slide in their H1 profits and in their profit-making capabilities, said xinhuanet.com today.

BYD Auto's F0 goes on sale in the home market this morning, priced from 45,800 yuan ($6,711) to 55,800 yuan depending on different specifications, a Xinhua report said.

With the sales tax on big cars to rise on September 1, most of the fuel-guzzling cars of hot-selling brands have seen their prices increase as well, said Beijing News today. However, the price is likely to rise higher after the tax hike on big cars took effect today.

Most auto dealers showed positive expectations for September auto market, and predicted vehicle sales will post a month-on-month increase by 30% to 50%, according to a survey of 20 auto dealers and 99 consumers recently conducted by West China City Daily.