Car sales growth may fall short of estimates

BEIJING - China's passenger-car sales may grow at a slower pace this year than was earlier estimated by a group of the nation's automakers after the government ended incentives for purchases and raised fuel prices.

Sales growth this year may fail to reach a previous estimate by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers for a 10 percent to 15 percent increase, said Dong Yang, vice-chairman of the association.

"I am concerned about whether our growth rate is too low," Dong said at a briefing in Beijing on Sunday. "Some automakers' profitability may be undermined this year and some may even face difficulties in their operations."