Among the total, the sales of special-purpose vehicles saw the strongest rise at 36% from August figures with 513 units, followed by the sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles, with the increases of 24% and 21% to 17,213 units and 7,625 units, respectively. 

Sales of domestically-assembled automobiles stood at 17,325 units, up 16% from August; whilst that of imported vehicles surged 42%, reaching 8,026 units, the association said. 

However, the automobile sales in the first nine months of 2018 went down 2% year-on-year, reaching only 194,391 units. Sales of imported vehicles dropped as much as 34%.

The decrease is attributed to the issuance of Decree No.116/2017 ND-CP on tightening automobile manufacturing and trade, which took effect on January 1, 2018. 

From the second quarter to the present, most enterprises have completed the procedures stipulated in Decree No.116/2017/ND-CP, and as such, the volume of imported cars has continued to increase. The supply of imported vehicles is forecast to become gradually more stable.