Exports jump 38 yy in April, car association says
Domestic sales fall 5.8 yy in April CPCA
New energy vehicle sales at 43.5 of total for month

BEIJING, May 10 Reuters China39;s car exports surged to a record high in April, data showed on Friday, as domestic sales slipped 5.8 from a year earlier amid intensifying price competition and consumers39; caution about spending on big items during a shaky economic recovery.

Car exports jumped 38 yearonyear to 417,000 units in April, continuing strong momentum from the previous month which posted a 39 growth in exports, the China Passenger Car Association CPCA said.

An ongoing antisubsidy investigation by the EU into Chinese automakers has disrupted and put pressure on vehicle exports to the bloc, but China has been actively exploring South America, Australia and ASEAN markets for exports, said Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the association.

He said local automakers would have to make a choice between going overseas and losing out, as competition in the domestic market intensifies.

Passenger vehicle sales in the world39;s biggest auto market fell 5.8 in April from a year earlier to 1.55 million units and slipped 9.6 from March, CPCA data showed. Car sales had risen 5.7 in March on the year, and jumped 53 on the month.

Market sluggishness was worse than expected, while some automakers still strived to keep producing and resulted in rising inventories at dealerships, Cui said.

While the share of new energy vehicle…