SHANGHAI (AP):China widened its lead over the United States (US) as the world's biggest auto market in January, with passenger car sales more than doubling to 1.32 million vehicles, an industry group reported Tuesday.

Spurred by tax cuts and other government stimulus measures, vehicle sales soared from the 735,000 reported in January 2009, when sales in the Chinese market first overtook those in the US.

January's passenger car sales were up 18 per cent from December's 1.1 million vehicles sold.

Total vehicle sales, including larger vehicles, also more than doubled from last year to 1.66 million units, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said.