BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China, the world's largest car market, grew significantly again in December. According to preliminary figures, passenger car sales rose by 11 percent year-on-year to a good 2.6 million, as announced by the industry association PCA (China Passenger Car Association) on Wednesday in Beijing. I predict a 5 percent increase in sales by 2024. Sales of electric cars rose by as much as 46 percent in December to almost 1.4 million units. This means that electric cars again account for more than half of all cars sold. However, the Chinese authorities also count hybrid drives, which combine combustion engines and batteries, as well as alternative drives such as hydrogen, as NEVs (new energy vehicles)./stw/mis