Last year, China's vehicle output grew 12.56 percent to 5.71 million units over the previous year, and sales of domestically made vehicles grew 13.54 percent to 5.76 million units, according to statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

However, the growth rates of output and sales in 2005 dropped by 14.11 percent and 15.5 percent respectively compared to the previous period, the state-run 'China Daily' reported Saturday.

Last year, output and sales of passenger vehicles, including cars, sport utility vehicles, multi-purpose vehicles and minivans, increased more rapidly than the overall output and sales growth rates.

Among them, car output and sales posted the fastest growth of over 24 percent. The 2005 car sales and output reached 2.77 million units and 2.79 million units.