China auto sales likely plunged 18% in January, coronavirus outbreak takes a toll

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Auto sales in China are likely to have fallen 18% in January, their 19th consecutive month of decline, an industry body said as the outbreak of the new coronavirus began to hit the industry. Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) plunged 54.4%, down for a seventh month in a row, preliminary data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) showed.Local governments began imposing travel curbs and warning residents to avoid public spaces in the last two weeks..