Korea's auto exports rose 7 percent in July from a year earlier to a new record high, driven by strong demand for environment-friendly models, data showed Thursday. The combined value of automobile shipments came to $6.24 billion last month, according to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, setting a new record for any July. The ministry said exports of eco-friendly automobiles maintained solid growth, surging 25.5 percent from a year earlier to $2.59 billion. Outbound shipments to North America and the European Union climbed 18 percent and 23.5 percent, respectively, to $3.25 billion and $880 million. Domestically, 139,000 vehicles were sold last month, up 0.5 percent from a year earlier. The number of locally produced cars rose 11.3 percent to 352,000, the ministry said. Six out of 10 vehicles sold in the domestic market were all-electric, gasoline hybrid or other eco-friendly models. "By closely communicating with the industry, the government plans to cope with uncertainties in the automobile industry during this critical period of transition toward future mobility s