SAO PAULO, Brazil, July 6 (Reuters) - Brazilian automobile production fell 6.7 percent in June from the earlier month and new vehicle sales came down 9.6 percent in the period, the national automakers association said on Thursday.

Output fell to 225,800 vehicles in June, compared with 242,000 in May, the association, known as Anfavea, said. Sales in June fell to 148,400 from 164,100.

Automobile manufacture rose 4.4 percent in the first half of 2006 from the same period a year earlier to 1.3 million vehicles, and sales increased 7.6 percent to 861,200 vehicles, as a decline in the country's benchmark interest rate made it cheaper for Brazilians to take on car loans.