Ford China Jan car sales more than double to 30,759

Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday sales at its passenger vehicle joint venture in China more than doubled in January from a year earlier to 30,759 units.

Sales rose in January surged 128% from a year earlier on the popularity of its Fiesta and Focus sedans, the U.S. auto maker said in a statement.

"We remain confident that our world-class Ford products and services, in addition to the ongoing expansion of our nationwide Ford dealer network, will continue to attract strong demand from Chinese customers," said Nigel Harris, general manager of Changan Ford Sales Co.

Ford operates a passenger vehicle joint venture in China with Mazda Motor Corp. and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. It also has a commercial vehicle-making joint venture, Jiangling Motors Corp.

Passenger vehicle sales in China fell 7.8% in January last year, which was otherwise a strong year for the country's auto sector.