BEIJING - China's automobile production and sales grew negligibly in the first seven months of 2015.

Auto production rose 0.8 percent year on year to 13.6 million vehicles in the first seven months, while sales increased 0.39 percent to 13.3 million, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said in a press release.

The first seven months' growth decelerated remarkably from that for the January-June period of 2.64 and 1.43 percent respectively.

CAAM attributed the slower growth mainly to the fall in commercial vehicle output and sales.

In the first seven months, commercial vehicle output and sales dropped 14.6 percent and 13.9 percent.

In July alone, auto output and sales declined by 11.8 percent and 7.12 percent year on year to reach 1.52 million and 1.5 million vehicles, respectively, marking the third consecutive month of year-on-year decline.

The economic slowdown, competition and purchase quota policies in first-tier cities were cited as reasons for the contraction.