Sales of China-made autos hit 6.46 million units in the first nine months this year, an increase of 24.5 percent over the same period last year, China's auto industry association said on Tuesday.

During the period, output of domestic autos rose by 22.8 percent to 6.51 million units while the sales are expected to hit 8.5 million by the year end, according to statistics released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Of the total, sales of passenger vehicles hit 4.58 million units, up 23.8 percent, and commercial vehicles reached 1.88 million units, up 26 percent.

Followed by China FAW Group Corporation and Dongfeng Motor Corporation, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation ranked first in sales volume, selling 1.13 million units.

Meanwhile, sales of the top ten companies account for 83 percent of the total, according to the auto association.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2007)