Automobile sales dropped by 2.93 percent year-on-year to less than 22,000 units in Nantong, Jiangsu province, in January.

However, their combined sales value rose to 3 billion yuan ($481 million) in total, a 3.23 percent growth compared with the same period last year.

Of the city’s six districts and counties, Tongzhou district was the only one that saw growth in vehicle purchase tax in the period.

Due to reforms for government cars and the sluggish climate, the auto sales market is now a buyer’s one, industrial insiders said.