China sells 830,000 PVs in Apr, up 37.4%: CAAM

Shanghai, May 8 (Gasgoo.com) China sold 831,000 sedans, minivans and other passenger vehicles in April, a rise of 37.37% year on year, the most in three years, xinhuanet.com reported today, citing data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Vehicle sales, including buses and trucks, rose 25% to 1.153 million.

Seven of the top 10 passenger car makers in China posted sales growth last month. Shanghai VW, FAW VW, Shanghai GM and Beijing Hyundai each saw their April sales rise to 50,000 cars, with the sales of Shanghai VW exceeding 60,000 units, retaining its lead in China's monthly sales of passenger vehicles, according to CAAM.

China's auto market is proving to be an oasis for some global auto makers whose home markets are weak. Audi AG said Thursday its sales in China, includingHong Kong, rose 21% from a year earlier in April to 12,156 units, a monthly record for the company, boosted by the newly released long version of its A4 sedan.

General Motors (GM) said Tuesday its China sales rose 50% in April from a year earlier to 151,084 units, boosted by two new models and brisk sales of its smaller vehicles.

Sales at Ford Motor's passenger auto joint venture in China, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., rose 33% in April from a year earlier to 25,882 units, its Chinese partner, Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., said earlier this week. 

China has withstood a global slump in auto sales after the government cut retail taxes and began handing out 5 billion yuan ($733 million) in subsidies to help boost demand.