At 11.6%, China vehicle sales post biggest drop in nearly 7 years

Beijing, concerned about the slowdown, has already opened the taps to boost liquidity in the market

China's vehicle sales slid 11.6 per cent in September in their worst monthly drop in nearly seven years, as slowing economic growth and a deepening Sino-US trade war took their toll on the world's largest auto market.

Vehicle sales fell for the third straight month in September to 2.39 million units, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said on Friday, citing a sluggish economy, deleveraging and a tough pollution crackdown for the steep fall.

China's top auto industry body also said its already meagre forecast for full-year growth would be missed, though the market should avoid a sales decline. Analysts have