China's imports from the Yamal project play a significant role in substantially boosting China's oil and gas reserves, ensuring a steady, long-term supply, said Jiang Qi, general manager of the CNPC Russia, a subsidiary of CNPC, the country's largest oil and gas producer by annual output.

China will take more than 4 million metric tons from Russia's Yamal liquefied natural gas project each year when it is fully operational, said CNPC, which is an investor in the project.

In September 2013, CNPC bought a 20 percent stake in Oao Novatek's $27 billion Yamal project for $5.4 billion.

Jiang said China and Russia have natural complementarities in energy cooperation.

"Long-term oil and gas cooperation framework has been established thorough the Sino-Russia crude oil transmission pipeline and the natural gas pipeline currently in construction," Jiang said.

"The project also promotes the construction of the Northeast Passage in the Arctic Ocean, a sea route directly linking China and Europe."

As many as 54 freight vessels have traveled through the passage. Once the project is expanded, there will be more LNG transported through the sea route, which will significantly lower freight costs between China and Europe, he said.

Many Chinese shipyards have participated in the project, which have accumulated technology and experience in oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region.

Russia's Yamal liquefied natural gas project loaded its first export cargo of 173,000 cubic meters of the super-chilled fuel from its Arctic terminal over the weekend.

Jiang said the Yamal project also helped Chinese enterprises in the manufacturing sector gain experience and technology to work in Arctic region.

Chinese enterprises are responsible for 85 percent of the project's module construction. They have built seven transport ships and are in charge of the operation of 14 out of the 15 LNG carriers, according to CNPC.

The contract amount for the project's construction totaled $7.8 billion, while the shipping contract amounted to $8.5 billion, it said.

China's drive for cleaner energy is leading to a gas shortage this winter, with a severe shortage of natural gas as Beijing curbs coal use.

To ease the rising demand for gas, Qu Guangxue, a CNPC spokesman, said that the company plans to continue negotiating with Central Asian nations for additional stocks to ensure adequate domestic natural gas supplies.

China's imports from the Yamal project play a significant role in substantially boosting China's oil and gas reserves, ensuring a steady, long-term supply, said Jiang Qi, general manager of the CNPC Russia, a subsidiary of CNPC, the country's largest oil and gas producer by annual output.

China will take more than 4 million metric tons from Russia's Yamal liquefied natural gas project each year when it is fully operational, said CNPC, which is an investor in the project.

In September 2013, CNPC bought a 20 percent stake in Oao Novatek's $27 billion Yamal project for $5.4 billion.

Jiang said China and Russia have natural complementarities in energy cooperation.

"Long-term oil and gas cooperation framework has been established thorough the Sino-Russia crude oil transmission pipeline and the natural gas pipeline currently in construction," Jiang said.

"The project also promotes the construction of the Northeast Passage in the Arctic Ocean, a sea route directly linking China and Europe."

As many as 54 freight vessels have traveled through the passage. Once the project is expanded, there will be more LNG transported through the sea route, which will significantly lower freight costs between China and Europe, he said.

Many Chinese shipyards have participated in the project, which have accumulated technology and experience in oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region.

Russia's Yamal liquefied natural gas project loaded its first export cargo of 173,000 cubic meters of the super-chilled fuel from its Arctic terminal over the weekend.

Jiang said the Yamal project also helped Chinese enterprises in the manufacturing sector gain experience and technology to work in Arctic region.

Chinese enterprises are responsible for 85 percent of the project's module construction. They have built seven transport ships and are in charge of the operation of 14 out of the 15 LNG carriers, according to CNPC.

The contract amount for the project's construction totaled $7.8 billion, while the shipping contract amounted to $8.5 billion, it said.

China's drive for cleaner energy is leading to a gas shortage this winter, with a severe shortage of natural gas as Beijing curbs coal use.

To ease the rising demand for gas, Qu Guangxue, a CNPC spokesman, said that the company plans to continue negotiating with Central Asian nations for additional stocks to ensure adequate domestic natural gas supplies.

The company invested 1 billion yuan ($151 million) in the 150MW floating photovoltaic power station, located in Huainan, using the water surface from an area of coal mining subsidence.

Construction of the project started in July and it is set to become fully operational by May, said the company.

"This floating power plant is a new exploration in the development of renewable energy and it lays solid foundations for its nationwide application," said Lu Chun, chairman of China Three Gorges Corp.

"We will make it the largest and most intelligent solar power project with the most advanced technology in the world."

Analysts said currently only small and medium-sized hydropower projects remain untapped in China, which leaves less room for growth.

Joseph Jacobelli, a senior analyst tracking Asia utilities at Bloomberg Intelligence, said the floating PV station is part of the company's efforts to diversify its business as there is a decline in new hydropower projects.

"Hydroelectric power in China in terms of new additions will have limited growth given the exploitable resources have already been grabbed," said Jacobelli.

"Those areas where hydroelectric power plants are easy to build have already been fully exploited and it makes a lot of sense for Three Gorges to look at related clean technologies."

China Three Gorges Corp has been exploring wind, solar, nuclear and other forms of new energy beyond its core business, as potential new hydropower opportunities at home decline.

It said earlier that it plans to build itself into a clean-energy conglomerate, with total installed capacity of 100 gigawatts by 2020.

The company invested 1 billion yuan ($151 million) in the 150MW floating photovoltaic power station, located in Huainan, using the water surface from an area of coal mining subsidence.

Construction of the project started in July and it is set to become fully operational by May, said the company.

"This floating power plant is a new exploration in the development of renewable energy and it lays solid foundations for its nationwide application," said Lu Chun, chairman of China Three Gorges Corp.

"We will make it the largest and most intelligent solar power project with the most advanced technology in the world."

Analysts said currently only small and medium-sized hydropower projects remain untapped in China, which leaves less room for growth.

Joseph Jacobelli, a senior analyst tracking Asia utilities at Bloomberg Intelligence, said the floating PV station is part of the company's efforts to diversify its business as there is a decline in new hydropower projects.

"Hydroelectric power in China in terms of new additions will have limited growth given the exploitable resources have already been grabbed," said Jacobelli.

"Those areas where hydroelectric power plants are easy to build have already been fully exploited and it makes a lot of sense for Three Gorges to look at related clean technologies."

China Three Gorges Corp has been exploring wind, solar, nuclear and other forms of new energy beyond its core business, as potential new hydropower opportunities at home decline.

It said earlier that it plans to build itself into a clean-energy conglomerate, with total installed capacity of 100 gigawatts by 2020.

Orders for China's rebounding shipbuilding industry reached the top place in the world in the past 11 months, surpassing its counterpart South Korea, according to an international industrial analysis agency.

According to the data released by British shipbuilding and marine analysis agency Clarkson Research Services on Friday, from January to November, China's shipbuilding order volume totaled 7.13 million compensated gross tons from 324 vessels, followed by South Korea, which has received 5.74 CGT.

It is the first time in the past seven years China has exceeded South Korea in shipbuilding orders.

The data also show that China's shipbuilding industry secured 36.3 percent of the global market, 7 percentage points more than South Korea, which accounts for 29.4 percent of global orders.

Chinese shipyards have been performing well this year.

This August, French group CMACGM SA ordered nine 22,000 twenty-foot equivalent units container vessels from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co and Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co.

In October, China State Shipbuilding Corp, China Investment Corp and Carnival Corp, the world's biggest cruise operator, signed an agreement to invest total 25.5 billion yuan ($3.85 billion) to build a super luxury cruise ship. It was also the first order of this kind Chinese shipbuilding companies had ever received.

Dong Liwan, a shipbuilding industry researcher at Shanghai Maritime University, said with the orders for high-value-added ships continuing to go to Chinese shipyards, their South Korean competitors will definitely feel the pinch.

China's shipbuilding business is also moving from quantity to quality, as the industry is becoming more intelligent and environmentally friendly.

"China's shipbuilding industry is realizing the transformation with its hardworking spirit to achieve technical breakthrough and innovation," said Sun Licheng, president of China Classification Society.

"While maintaining growth, it is realizing production mode transformation, structural adjustment and transformation, and upgrading, and reinforcing China's shipbuilding status in the world."

Sun said the goal is to become a strong shipbuilding country by 2020, and to accelerate the development of advanced intelligent manufacturing and industrial equipment capability.

At the recent All China Maritime Conference and Exhibition, China State Shipbuilding Corporation has delivered the world's first smart ship, Great Intelligence, with a loading capacity of 38,800 metric tons.

Meanwhile, COSCO Dalian shipyard has signed orders with Thordon Bearings, a marine industry solution provider for its water lubricated propeller shaft bearings, which can use seawater as the lubrication medium instead of oil that could cause pollution.

Alex Li, managing director of CY Engineering Co Ltd, Thordon Bearings' partner in China, said that the latest order is a significant sign showing Chinese shipbuilders' commitment to reducing industry-borne emissions and pollutants.

Orders for China's rebounding shipbuilding industry reached the top place in the world in the past 11 months, surpassing its counterpart South Korea, according to an international industrial analysis agency.

According to the data released by British shipbuilding and marine analysis agency Clarkson Research Services on Friday, from January to November, China's shipbuilding order volume totaled 7.13 million compensated gross tons from 324 vessels, followed by South Korea, which has received 5.74 CGT.

It is the first time in the past seven years China has exceeded South Korea in shipbuilding orders.

The data also show that China's shipbuilding industry secured 36.3 percent of the global market, 7 percentage points more than South Korea, which accounts for 29.4 percent of global orders.

Chinese shipyards have been performing well this year.

This August, French group CMACGM SA ordered nine 22,000 twenty-foot equivalent units container vessels from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co and Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co.

In October, China State Shipbuilding Corp, China Investment Corp and Carnival Corp, the world's biggest cruise operator, signed an agreement to invest total 25.5 billion yuan ($3.85 billion) to build a super luxury cruise ship. It was also the first order of this kind Chinese shipbuilding companies had ever received.

Dong Liwan, a shipbuilding industry researcher at Shanghai Maritime University, said with the orders for high-value-added ships continuing to go to Chinese shipyards, their South Korean competitors will definitely feel the pinch.

China's shipbuilding business is also moving from quantity to quality, as the industry is becoming more intelligent and environmentally friendly.

"China's shipbuilding industry is realizing the transformation with its hardworking spirit to achieve technical breakthrough and innovation," said Sun Licheng, president of China Classification Society.

"While maintaining growth, it is realizing production mode transformation, structural adjustment and transformation, and upgrading, and reinforcing China's shipbuilding status in the world."

Sun said the goal is to become a strong shipbuilding country by 2020, and to accelerate the development of advanced intelligent manufacturing and industrial equipment capability.

At the recent All China Maritime Conference and Exhibition, China State Shipbuilding Corporation has delivered the world's first smart ship, Great Intelligence, with a loading capacity of 38,800 metric tons.

Meanwhile, COSCO Dalian shipyard has signed orders with Thordon Bearings, a marine industry solution provider for its water lubricated propeller shaft bearings, which can use seawater as the lubrication medium instead of oil that could cause pollution.

Alex Li, managing director of CY Engineering Co Ltd, Thordon Bearings' partner in China, said that the latest order is a significant sign showing Chinese shipbuilders' commitment to reducing industry-borne emissions and pollutants.

Orders for China's rebounding shipbuilding industry reached the top place in the world in the past 11 months, surpassing its counterpart South Korea, according to an international industrial analysis agency.

According to the data released by British shipbuilding and marine analysis agency Clarkson Research Services on Friday, from January to November, China's shipbuilding order volume totaled 7.13 million compensated gross tons from 324 vessels, followed by South Korea, which has received 5.74 CGT.

It is the first time in the past seven years China has exceeded South Korea in shipbuilding orders.

The data also show that China's shipbuilding industry secured 36.3 percent of the global market, 7 percentage points more than South Korea, which accounts for 29.4 percent of global orders.

Chinese shipyards have been performing well this year.

This August, French group CMACGM SA ordered nine 22,000 twenty-foot equivalent units container vessels from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co and Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co.

In October, China State Shipbuilding Corp, China Investment Corp and Carnival Corp, the world's biggest cruise operator, signed an agreement to invest total 25.5 billion yuan ($3.85 billion) to build a super luxury cruise ship. It was also the first order of this kind Chinese shipbuilding companies had ever received.

Dong Liwan, a shipbuilding industry researcher at Shanghai Maritime University, said with the orders for high-value-added ships continuing to go to Chinese shipyards, their South Korean competitors will definitely feel the pinch.

China's shipbuilding business is also moving from quantity to quality, as the industry is becoming more intelligent and environmentally friendly.

"China's shipbuilding industry is realizing the transformation with its hardworking spirit to achieve technical breakthrough and innovation," said Sun Licheng, president of China Classification Society.

"While maintaining growth, it is realizing production mode transformation, structural adjustment and transformation, and upgrading, and reinforcing China's shipbuilding status in the world."

Sun said the goal is to become a strong shipbuilding country by 2020, and to accelerate the development of advanced intelligent manufacturing and industrial equipment capability.

At the recent All China Maritime Conference and Exhibition, China State Shipbuilding Corporation has delivered the world's first smart ship, Great Intelligence, with a loading capacity of 38,800 metric tons.

Meanwhile, COSCO Dalian shipyard has signed orders with Thordon Bearings, a marine industry solution provider for its water lubricated propeller shaft bearings, which can use seawater as the lubrication medium instead of oil that could cause pollution.

Alex Li, managing director of CY Engineering Co Ltd, Thordon Bearings' partner in China, said that the latest order is a significant sign showing Chinese shipbuilders' commitment to reducing industry-borne emissions and pollutants.

Orders for China's rebounding shipbuilding industry reached the top place in the world in the past 11 months, surpassing its counterpart South Korea, according to an international industrial analysis agency.

According to the data released by British shipbuilding and marine analysis agency Clarkson Research Services on Friday, from January to November, China's shipbuilding order volume totaled 7.13 million compensated gross tons from 324 vessels, followed by South Korea, which has received 5.74 CGT.

It is the first time in the past seven years China has exceeded South Korea in shipbuilding orders.

The data also show that China's shipbuilding industry secured 36.3 percent of the global market, 7 percentage points more than South Korea, which accounts for 29.4 percent of global orders.

Chinese shipyards have been performing well this year.

This August, French group CMACGM SA ordered nine 22,000 twenty-foot equivalent units container vessels from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co and Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co.

In October, China State Shipbuilding Corp, China Investment Corp and Carnival Corp, the world's biggest cruise operator, signed an agreement to invest total 25.5 billion yuan ($3.85 billion) to build a super luxury cruise ship. It was also the first order of this kind Chinese shipbuilding companies had ever received.

Dong Liwan, a shipbuilding industry researcher at Shanghai Maritime University, said with the orders for high-value-added ships continuing to go to Chinese shipyards, their South Korean competitors will definitely feel the pinch.

China's shipbuilding business is also moving from quantity to quality, as the industry is becoming more intelligent and environmentally friendly.

"China's shipbuilding industry is realizing the transformation with its hardworking spirit to achieve technical breakthrough and innovation," said Sun Licheng, president of China Classification Society.

"While maintaining growth, it is realizing production mode transformation, structural adjustment and transformation, and upgrading, and reinforcing China's shipbuilding status in the world."

Sun said the goal is to become a strong shipbuilding country by 2020, and to accelerate the development of advanced intelligent manufacturing and industrial equipment capability.

At the recent All China Maritime Conference and Exhibition, China State Shipbuilding Corporation has delivered the world's first smart ship, Great Intelligence, with a loading capacity of 38,800 metric tons.

Meanwhile, COSCO Dalian shipyard has signed orders with Thordon Bearings, a marine industry solution provider for its water lubricated propeller shaft bearings, which can use seawater as the lubrication medium instead of oil that could cause pollution.

Alex Li, managing director of CY Engineering Co Ltd, Thordon Bearings' partner in China, said that the latest order is a significant sign showing Chinese shipbuilders' commitment to reducing industry-borne emissions and pollutants.

Chinese carmaker Beijing Automotive Group Co will phase out conventional fuel-powered cars under its own brand by 2025 as part of its ambitious new energy car campaign, according to a top company official.

"Our goal is to stop sales of self-developed conventional fuel-powered cars in Beijing by 2020 and stop their production and sales nationwide by 2025," said BAIC Group Chairman Xu Heyi.

In addition to its own BAIC-branded cars, the group also has carmaking joint ventures with South Korean carmaker Hyundai and Germany's Daimler AG, owner of the Mercedes-Benz brand.

Xu made the remarks over the weekend at an event to commemorate the opening of a new energy car technology and innovation center it set up in Beijing along with 14 institutions, including its new-energy car arm BJEV, Tsinghua University and battery maker CATL.

The facility is expected to build an open platform that will better mobilize global innovative resources and facilitate cooperation among companies, universities, research facilities and even users, BJEV said in a news release.

Xu Qiang, head of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, said the center is an important and practical move to promote cooperation and improve innovative capabilities and core competitiveness in the field.

The move comes at a time when new energy cars are gaining momentum in China, which is the world's largest market for such cars.

From January to November, China sold 609,000 new energy cars, a 51.4 percent growth year-on-year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, which estimated that overall sales in the category could reach 700,000 units.

BAIC Group is one of the country's leading new energy carmakers, with BJEV selling 21,598 cars in November, an 85 percent surge from October.

The performance has brought its sales in the first 11 months of this year to more than 88,000 units.

At last month's Guangzhou auto show, BJEV Deputy General Manager Zhang Yong said the company will invest some 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) on research and development in the next three to five years and launch two to three new models every year.

It also plans to launch 500,000 new energy cars for the taxi and ride-sharing sectors in 1,000 cities by 2022.

To solve the problem of slow charging, the carmaker announced earlier this year that it will invest 10 billion yuan to build 3,000 solar-powered battery changing stations.

Chinese carmaker Beijing Automotive Group Co will phase out conventional fuel-powered cars under its own brand by 2025 as part of its ambitious new energy car campaign, according to a top company official.

"Our goal is to stop sales of self-developed conventional fuel-powered cars in Beijing by 2020 and stop their production and sales nationwide by 2025," said BAIC Group Chairman Xu Heyi.

In addition to its own BAIC-branded cars, the group also has carmaking joint ventures with South Korean carmaker Hyundai and Germany's Daimler AG, owner of the Mercedes-Benz brand.

Xu made the remarks over the weekend at an event to commemorate the opening of a new energy car technology and innovation center it set up in Beijing along with 14 institutions, including its new-energy car arm BJEV, Tsinghua University and battery maker CATL.

The facility is expected to build an open platform that will better mobilize global innovative resources and facilitate cooperation among companies, universities, research facilities and even users, BJEV said in a news release.

Xu Qiang, head of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, said the center is an important and practical move to promote cooperation and improve innovative capabilities and core competitiveness in the field.

The move comes at a time when new energy cars are gaining momentum in China, which is the world's largest market for such cars.

From January to November, China sold 609,000 new energy cars, a 51.4 percent growth year-on-year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, which estimated that overall sales in the category could reach 700,000 units.

BAIC Group is one of the country's leading new energy carmakers, with BJEV selling 21,598 cars in November, an 85 percent surge from October.

The performance has brought its sales in the first 11 months of this year to more than 88,000 units.

At last month's Guangzhou auto show, BJEV Deputy General Manager Zhang Yong said the company will invest some 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) on research and development in the next three to five years and launch two to three new models every year.

It also plans to launch 500,000 new energy cars for the taxi and ride-sharing sectors in 1,000 cities by 2022.

To solve the problem of slow charging, the carmaker announced earlier this year that it will invest 10 billion yuan to build 3,000 solar-powered battery changing stations.

Jiang Zhimin, vice-president of China National Coal Association, said the country will meet the coal capacity reduction goal next year. By the end of this year, the number of coal mines in China will drop to about 7,000 from 10,800 in 2015, he said at a forum hosted by the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute recently.

In 2016, China cut coal capacity by more than 290 million tons. This year's target was 150 million tons, which was accomplished in November, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

"China now has more than 1,200 coal mines with annual production capacity exceeding 1.2 million tons, accounting for more than 75 percent of the country's total coal capacity", Jiang said.

The country has also cut its steel capacity by more than 115 million tons, close to upper limit of capacity reduction target of 150 million tons set for the steel sector during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), according to Xu Wenli, head of the Iron and Steel Division at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

"The country will continue to cut outdated steel capacity and prevent shuttered or illegal steel mills from returning to the market", said Xu.

China has phased out production of 140 million tons of low-quality steel made from scrap metal by the end of June, according to the NBS.

More than 65 million tons of steel production capacity was eliminated in 2016. The country met the 2017 capacity reduction goal of 50 million tons by the end of August.

China will, however, see increased iron ore imports in 2018, as the country closes small polluting mines to improve air quality, according to Lei Pingxi, chief engineer at the Metallurgical Mines Association of China.

"Iron ore imports are expected to rise by 5.5 percent year-on-year to 1.08 billion tons in 2017 and by a further 3 percent to 1.12 billion tons next year," said Lei.

"The country will eliminate about a third of its iron ore mining licenses, mostly belonging to small polluting mines," he said.

Over 1,000 mining licenses will be canceled under a government-led crackdown on smog and outdated steelmaking capacity, accounting for 15 to 20 percent of the country's total iron ore capacity, according to Lei.

Jiang Zhimin, vice-president of China National Coal Association, said the country will meet the coal capacity reduction goal next year. By the end of this year, the number of coal mines in China will drop to about 7,000 from 10,800 in 2015, he said at a forum hosted by the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute recently.

In 2016, China cut coal capacity by more than 290 million tons. This year's target was 150 million tons, which was accomplished in November, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

"China now has more than 1,200 coal mines with annual production capacity exceeding 1.2 million tons, accounting for more than 75 percent of the country's total coal capacity", Jiang said.

The country has also cut its steel capacity by more than 115 million tons, close to upper limit of capacity reduction target of 150 million tons set for the steel sector during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), according to Xu Wenli, head of the Iron and Steel Division at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

"The country will continue to cut outdated steel capacity and prevent shuttered or illegal steel mills from returning to the market", said Xu.

China has phased out production of 140 million tons of low-quality steel made from scrap metal by the end of June, according to the NBS.

More than 65 million tons of steel production capacity was eliminated in 2016. The country met the 2017 capacity reduction goal of 50 million tons by the end of August.

China will, however, see increased iron ore imports in 2018, as the country closes small polluting mines to improve air quality, according to Lei Pingxi, chief engineer at the Metallurgical Mines Association of China.

"Iron ore imports are expected to rise by 5.5 percent year-on-year to 1.08 billion tons in 2017 and by a further 3 percent to 1.12 billion tons next year," said Lei.

"The country will eliminate about a third of its iron ore mining licenses, mostly belonging to small polluting mines," he said.

Over 1,000 mining licenses will be canceled under a government-led crackdown on smog and outdated steelmaking capacity, accounting for 15 to 20 percent of the country's total iron ore capacity, according to Lei.

Vehicle sales posted a meager 0.7 percent year-on-year growth in China during November to 2.96 million units, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers on Monday.

Car sales in the first 11 months of the year totaled 25.85 million units, a 3.6 percent growth from a year ago. Although a decent figure if put in the global context, the growth rate is 10.5 percentage points lower than the year-on-year growth figure for January to November 2016.

Xu Haidong, an assistant to the CAAM's secretary-general, said the overall sales growth this year would "definitely fall to below 4 percent", beating the organization's estimate of 5 percent growth at the start of the year.

The lower sales numbers are due to a number of factors ranging from a purchase tax discount that is gradually losing its effect and the overall economic conditions in China.

The tax discount, which stood at 50 percent when introduced in 2015, has been halved from January this year and will expire by the end of this month. "The trend is clear. Growth will slow down even further next year," he told China Daily, without giving an estimate.

Passenger cars, which account for bulk of the car sales, saw even slower growth than the overall figure. A total of 22 million passenger cars were sold from January to November, a 1.9 percent growth year-on-year.

Even that meager growth would have been impossible without sports utility vehicles, whose sales grew 14.5 percent year-on-year to 9.09 million units while sedan sales dipped 2.3 percent. Sales of multi-purpose vehicles fell 16.5 percent, while that of minivans slumped 20.1 percent in the same period.

New energy cars, which consist of electric cars, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell cars, however, saw solid growth.

A record number of 119,000 units were sold in November, surging 83 percent year-on-year. Sales in the first 11 months reached 609,000 units, a 51.4 percent growth year-on-year.

"Their development is in line with our expectations. It is now almost certain that their sales this year would reach our whole-year estimate of 700,000 units," said Xu.

"We are confident in new energy cars and see no problems in their sales reaching 1 million units in 2018."

Charging networks for such vehicles have also been growing rapidly, with a total of 431,800 charging poles built by the end of November, according to the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance.

Commercial cars, including buses and trucks, also reported a decent sales performance. In November, 368,000 vehicles were sold, a 7.3 percent rise from the same month last year.

That brought sales in the first 11 months to 3.75 million, up nearly 15 percent year-on-year, 11.2 percentage points higher than the industry's average.

Vehicle sales posted a meager 0.7 percent year-on-year growth in China during November to 2.96 million units, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers on Monday.

Car sales in the first 11 months of the year totaled 25.85 million units, a 3.6 percent growth from a year ago. Although a decent figure if put in the global context, the growth rate is 10.5 percentage points lower than the year-on-year growth figure for January to November 2016.

Xu Haidong, an assistant to the CAAM's secretary-general, said the overall sales growth this year would "definitely fall to below 4 percent", beating the organization's estimate of 5 percent growth at the start of the year.

The lower sales numbers are due to a number of factors ranging from a purchase tax discount that is gradually losing its effect and the overall economic conditions in China.

The tax discount, which stood at 50 percent when introduced in 2015, has been halved from January this year and will expire by the end of this month. "The trend is clear. Growth will slow down even further next year," he told China Daily, without giving an estimate.

Passenger cars, which account for bulk of the car sales, saw even slower growth than the overall figure. A total of 22 million passenger cars were sold from January to November, a 1.9 percent growth year-on-year.

Even that meager growth would have been impossible without sports utility vehicles, whose sales grew 14.5 percent year-on-year to 9.09 million units while sedan sales dipped 2.3 percent. Sales of multi-purpose vehicles fell 16.5 percent, while that of minivans slumped 20.1 percent in the same period.

New energy cars, which consist of electric cars, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell cars, however, saw solid growth.

A record number of 119,000 units were sold in November, surging 83 percent year-on-year. Sales in the first 11 months reached 609,000 units, a 51.4 percent growth year-on-year.

"Their development is in line with our expectations. It is now almost certain that their sales this year would reach our whole-year estimate of 700,000 units," said Xu.

"We are confident in new energy cars and see no problems in their sales reaching 1 million units in 2018."

Charging networks for such vehicles have also been growing rapidly, with a total of 431,800 charging poles built by the end of November, according to the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance.

Commercial cars, including buses and trucks, also reported a decent sales performance. In November, 368,000 vehicles were sold, a 7.3 percent rise from the same month last year.

That brought sales in the first 11 months to 3.75 million, up nearly 15 percent year-on-year, 11.2 percentage points higher than the industry's average.

Vehicle sales posted a meager 0.7 percent year-on-year growth in China during November to 2.96 million units, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers on Monday.

Car sales in the first 11 months of the year totaled 25.85 million units, a 3.6 percent growth from a year ago. Although a decent figure if put in the global context, the growth rate is 10.5 percentage points lower than the year-on-year growth figure for January to November 2016.

Xu Haidong, an assistant to the CAAM's secretary-general, said the overall sales growth this year would "definitely fall to below 4 percent", beating the organization's estimate of 5 percent growth at the start of the year.

The lower sales numbers are due to a number of factors ranging from a purchase tax discount that is gradually losing its effect and the overall economic conditions in China.

The tax discount, which stood at 50 percent when introduced in 2015, has been halved from January this year and will expire by the end of this month. "The trend is clear. Growth will slow down even further next year," he told China Daily, without giving an estimate.

Passenger cars, which account for bulk of the car sales, saw even slower growth than the overall figure. A total of 22 million passenger cars were sold from January to November, a 1.9 percent growth year-on-year.

Even that meager growth would have been impossible without sports utility vehicles, whose sales grew 14.5 percent year-on-year to 9.09 million units while sedan sales dipped 2.3 percent. Sales of multi-purpose vehicles fell 16.5 percent, while that of minivans slumped 20.1 percent in the same period.

New energy cars, which consist of electric cars, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell cars, however, saw solid growth.

A record number of 119,000 units were sold in November, surging 83 percent year-on-year. Sales in the first 11 months reached 609,000 units, a 51.4 percent growth year-on-year.

"Their development is in line with our expectations. It is now almost certain that their sales this year would reach our whole-year estimate of 700,000 units," said Xu.

"We are confident in new energy cars and see no problems in their sales reaching 1 million units in 2018."

Charging networks for such vehicles have also been growing rapidly, with a total of 431,800 charging poles built by the end of November, according to the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance.

Commercial cars, including buses and trucks, also reported a decent sales performance. In November, 368,000 vehicles were sold, a 7.3 percent rise from the same month last year.

That brought sales in the first 11 months to 3.75 million, up nearly 15 percent year-on-year, 11.2 percentage points higher than the industry's average.

Vehicle sales posted a meager 0.7 percent year-on-year growth in China during November to 2.96 million units, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers on Monday.

Car sales in the first 11 months of the year totaled 25.85 million units, a 3.6 percent growth from a year ago. Although a decent figure if put in the global context, the growth rate is 10.5 percentage points lower than the year-on-year growth figure for January to November 2016.

Xu Haidong, an assistant to the CAAM's secretary-general, said the overall sales growth this year would "definitely fall to below 4 percent", beating the organization's estimate of 5 percent growth at the start of the year.

The lower sales numbers are due to a number of factors ranging from a purchase tax discount that is gradually losing its effect and the overall economic conditions in China.

The tax discount, which stood at 50 percent when introduced in 2015, has been halved from January this year and will expire by the end of this month. "The trend is clear. Growth will slow down even further next year," he told China Daily, without giving an estimate.

Passenger cars, which account for bulk of the car sales, saw even slower growth than the overall figure. A total of 22 million passenger cars were sold from January to November, a 1.9 percent growth year-on-year.

Even that meager growth would have been impossible without sports utility vehicles, whose sales grew 14.5 percent year-on-year to 9.09 million units while sedan sales dipped 2.3 percent. Sales of multi-purpose vehicles fell 16.5 percent, while that of minivans slumped 20.1 percent in the same period.

New energy cars, which consist of electric cars, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell cars, however, saw solid growth.

A record number of 119,000 units were sold in November, surging 83 percent year-on-year. Sales in the first 11 months reached 609,000 units, a 51.4 percent growth year-on-year.

"Their development is in line with our expectations. It is now almost certain that their sales this year would reach our whole-year estimate of 700,000 units," said Xu.

"We are confident in new energy cars and see no problems in their sales reaching 1 million units in 2018."

Charging networks for such vehicles have also been growing rapidly, with a total of 431,800 charging poles built by the end of November, according to the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance.

Commercial cars, including buses and trucks, also reported a decent sales performance. In November, 368,000 vehicles were sold, a 7.3 percent rise from the same month last year.

That brought sales in the first 11 months to 3.75 million, up nearly 15 percent year-on-year, 11.2 percentage points higher than the industry's average.