Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam’s automobile sales in May totaled 26,028, increasing j🎃ust one percent from April but 45 percent from the same period last year, released the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA).

During the month, the number of passenger cars sold inched 2.2 percent against last month to 14,039. The figure for commercial cars increased 6.7 percent to 10,312 units, whereas special-purpose cars sales slid 27 percent to 1,677. They were sold by both VAMA members and non-VAMA-member businesses, which imported completely-built-up (CBU) cars. Up to 19,117 units of the sales were domestically assembled, 2 percent lower than April, while the purchase of CBU imported cars hit 6,911 units, an 11-percent monthly rise. The gain of CBU imported cars stemmed from consumers’ concern over a new tariff that will push up prices of imported cars with engine capacity above 2,500 cm3 after it comes into effect in July 1. By the end of May, overall auto turnover has surged 31 percent compared with the same period last year. The sales of passenger cars, commercial cars and special-purpose cars rose 22 percent, 42 percent and 59 percent, respectively. Of 111,442 cars sold in the five-month period, 85,238 were domestically assembled and 26,204 were imported cars, up 37 percent and 16 percent year-on-year.-VNA