CHINA’S auto sales rose nearly 8 percent year on year in January ahead of the national holiday, an industry group said Friday, picking up pace in a traditionally strong period for car purchases.

    China is the world’s largest car market, but its vehicle sales increased at their slowest rate in three years in 2015 as the country’s economy encountered headwinds.

    Automakers sold 2.5 million vehicles in China last month, up 7.7 percent year on year, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said in a statement.(SD-Agencies)