Oct 2 (Reuters) – * Japanese rubber futures fell on Thursday, pressured by a slowdown in Chinese auto sales, although a weaker yen provided some support to prices. * The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for March delivery was down 1.8 yen, or 0.6%, at 298.2 yen ($2.03) per kg, as of 0232 GMT. * Top Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD's third-quarter sales fell 2.1% year-on-year, marking the first quarterly decline for the firm in over five years. The slowdown signals a possible end to BYD's era of record-setting expansion. * Automobile sales could influence the intensity of automobile manufacturing, which involves using rubber-made tyres. * Chinese markets are closed from October 1 to 8 for the Golden Week holiday. * Japan's Nikkei was up about 0.5%, with chip stocks among the notable g

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