China's car sales fell 12% in January from a year earlier, the first decline since September and the biggest drop in almost a year, as automakers braced for intense competition in the world's largest auto market.

Retail sales of passenger cars fell 12.1% in January from a year earlier, the China Passenger Car Association said Tuesday.

China's automobile market experienced a 12% decline in car sales in January compared to the same month a year earlier. This is the first drop since September and the most significant one in nearly a year.

President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel imports this week could wreak havoc on American auto manufacturing, industry leaders say.

President Trump's newest round of tariffs is already upending the automotive industry, according to the CEO of Ford Motor Company. Trump signed an executive order on Monday that puts a 25% tariff on all foreign steel and aluminum imports.

The pro-tariff policies of the new Trump administration are expected to have far-reaching impacts on the local car industry, with new data revealing they could hit almost 20% of all new cars sold across the US.