Cars seen in a dealership in the northern city of Hai Phong.
Photo by VnExpress/Minh Huyen. 

Auto sales in the first six months rose 40 percent year-on-year to 150,481 units, according to Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA). 

Passenger vehicles saw sales rise 37 percent in the period, while commercial vehicles grew 48 percent and special-purpose vehicles, 68 percent.

Local brand Truong Hai Auto Corporation retained the top spot with 51,685 units, up 51 percent.

Toyota saw sales growing 16 percent to 29,239 units, while the figures for Mitsubishi were 45 percent and 14,915 units.

Honda and Ford made up the rest of the top five.

The best-selling car model in the first six months was the hatchback VinFast Fadil, followed by two sedans, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Vios.

Last year sales had fallen by 8 percent to 296,634 units as the Covid-19 pandemic badly affected the economy, hitting people’s incomes and discretionary spending.