BEIJING - China's production and sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) both surged in the first seven months of 2018, data showed Friday.

The country manufactured 504,000 NEVs in the period, up 85 percent year-on-year, while 496,000 were sold, up 97.1 percent, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said in a statement.

Sales of pure electric vehicles rose 82.4 percent in the first seven months to 373,000, representing 75 percent of the total, while sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles soared more than 160 percent in the same period, the association said.

The strong NEV sales can be mainly attributed to government subsidies, easier access to number plates, and tax preferences.

China's total auto sales rose 4.33 percent to 15.95 million units, and the output rose 3.52 percent to 16.1 million units, the data showed.

The country has remained the largest auto maker and market for nine consecutive years.