BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The number of automobiles sold in China totaled 25.31 million last year, down 1.9 percent from 2019, data from an industry association showed Wednesday.

The drop narrowed 6.3 percentage points from the decline seen in 2019, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

In December, auto sales reached 2.83 million, up 6.4 percent year on year, the ninth straight month of rise, data from the association showed.

China's auto market saw sustained recovery since April amid government support and a rebound in domestic demand. Both production and sales bounced back after significant drops in the first quarter affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.

In 2020, China produced 25.23 million automobiles, down 2 percent year on year.