China's auto exports in November posted their first year-on-year increase in 15 months, reflecting a recovery in demand that may benefit the domestic auto industry this year.

Auto exports rose 13.4 percent from a year earlier to 40,600 vehicles in November, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said. It was the first annual rise since August 2008, when overseas sales plunged amid the global financial crisis.

For the first 11 months of last year, China's total vehicle exports tumbled 49 percent to 325,800 units while export value dropped 49 percent to US$4.6 billion, CAAM said.

"I expect auto exports will get a further boost this year because of the stronger economic environment," said Qin Xuwen, an auto analyst from Oriental Securities Co. "This would give Chinese car makers a competitive edge."

November's export rise was mainly driven by cars, which grew 27 percent to 14,500 units from a year earlier, CAAM's report showed, while vans and buses remained in decline.

China's auto exports were only a small part of overall auto sales last year, which are estimated to exceed 13 million units.

China's Chery Automobile Co yesterday reported its exports had jumped 41 percent in December, totaling 7,593 units. Chery achieved sales of more than 500,000 vehicles last year.

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