China’s auto sales rose 1.8% in June over a year earlier but fell by double digits for the first half of 2020 after the country shut down to fight the coronavirus, an industry group reported Friday. June sales of SUVs, sedans and minivans in the industry’s biggest global market rose to 1.8 million, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. That was down from May’s 7% gain following the reopening of the economy but a rebound from February’s record 81.7% plunge after dealerships and other businesses were shut to contain the virus outbreak. For the six months through June, sales were off 22.4% from a year ago, CAAM reported. Total vehicle sales, including trucks and buses, rose 11.6% in June to 2.3 million. Demand already was weak before the outbreak due to consumer jitters over a slowing economy and trade tension with Washington. Sales fell […]