Nissan says Jan China auto sales up 22%

Nissan Motor Co Ltd sold 115,700 vehicles in China in January, up 22.2 percent from a year earlier. [Photo / Reuters]

Nissan Motor Co Ltd and its China joint venture sold 115,700 vehicles in China in January, up 22.2 percent from a year earlier, the Japanese automaker said on Monday.

That shows an improvement from December when sales fell 24 percent compared with a year earlier.

But figures were skewed due to weak holiday-hit sales in January last year. Showrooms in the world's largest auto market are often closed for much of China's Lunar New Year holiday, a week-long break that fell in January in 2012 but comes in February this year.

Nissan makes vehicles in China in partnership with Dongfeng Automobile Group Co.