China Auto Imports and Exports Rose 29.4% in July, NHTSA Opens Cybercab Certification Probe

China's auto goods imports and exports totaled $32.33 billion in July, up 29.4% year on year and 1.6% from June, according to Jiemian News citing customs data compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Exports rose 40.4% to $28.76 billion, while imports fell 20.6% to $3.57 billion. For January-July, China's cumulative auto goods trade reached $197.06 billion, up 26.1% year on year. Separately, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is investigating Tesla's certification process and technical data for Cybercab after the company confirmed the vehicle meets applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. NHTSA said Tesla has deployed Cybercab on a small scale in Austin, Texas, with about 1,000 vehicles involved, and noted the vehicle lacks permanently installed traditional controls such as a steering wheel, pedals and side mirrors. Jiemian News also reported that Tesla plans to expand the deployment gradually.