HANOI, Oct 6: Vietnamese car sales have rocketed 83 per cent in the first nine months of the year, manufacturers said on Saturday.

Sales have shot up to 49,240 vehicles against 26,934 in the same period last year, the Vietnamese Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said.

Passenger car sales between January and September were reported at 10,882 vehicles, a rise of 145 per cent.The figures were compiled from 16 of VAMA’s 18 members. Data were not available for the other two members.The biggest rise belonged to Japan’s Honda which sold 2,729 locally assembled vehicles, up 858pc from last year’s 285.—AFP