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in China stood at 25.99 million units and 25.84 million units, respectively, data from the CAAM showed. The full-year figure for sales or prouction of 29 million units estimated y the CAAM would still make China he world’s largest auto market, for the inth consecutive year. However, the organization said that he market is set for only “marginal” rowth from now on. It said sales may ecline in certain segments such as raditional sedans and commercial veicles, with sizable increases in sport tility vehicles (SUVs) and NEVs. In an e-mail statement sent to the Global Times on Thursday, BYD said hat 2017 saw brisk growth in NEV ales, with “particularly strong” condions in the second half. According to data from the China assenger Car Association (CPCA), China’s NEV sales in November reorded 81,000 units, up 87 percent ear-on-year. “Due to factors including envionmental protection, energy shortges and national security, NEVs will ecome path to the future. With the mplementation of China’s sales quota

“The industry is finally embracing market-driven brand consolidation.”

for electric cars and the shift from gasoline-based cars to electric cars globally, the trend will further intensify,” the statement said.

BYD said that the potential for NEV development was still huge, and it hoped that more entrants to the market could help promote alternative-fuel vehicles and improve industry quality through competition.

BYD is not alone in the drive toward NEVs. Domestic automaker BAIC Motor Corp, which also makes vehicles in joint ventures with South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Co and Germany’s Daimler AG, plans to stop selling own-branded conventional fuelpowered cars by 2025, media reports said on Tuesday.

Slowing sales growth in China is inevitable and will force automobile producers to improve their competitiveness, Yale Zhang, head of Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive