China’s auto sales growth tumbled to 7 percent in January amid an economic slowdown and curbs imposed to fight smog and traffic. Drivers in the world’s biggest auto market bought 1.85 million passenger vehicles, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said Thursday. It was the first time monthly sales surpassed 1.8 million. Auto sales growth is forecast to decelerate sharply from last year’s 15.7 percent expansion to about 8 to 10 percent. Sales grew 17 percent in December. Chinese leaders see auto manufacturing as a driver of economic development. But rapid growth has left Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities choking on smog. Some cities have responded by limiting the number of new vehicle registrations. China’s auto market is the world’s most crowded, with major global automakers and dozens of small Chinese brands jostling for sales. Intense competition is squeezing indigenous Chinese automakers that have less […]