Ford’s Chinese ventures extend auto sales recovery in June

Ford Motor’s Chinese ventures reported year-on-year sales to increase for June as the world’s biggest auto market keeps showing evidence of recovery from coronavirus-induced lows.

The U.S. automaker’s Chongqing-based venture with Changan said on Monday its sales increased 7.7% from a year earlier. It did not reveal the number of vehicles sold.

Ford’s new SUV models such as Escape, Edge and Explorer are selling well and contributed to the increase in past months, it said.

Jiangling Motors, in which Ford owns a stake, stated in a filing last week that it sold 39,192 vehicles in June, increasing 67% year on year. JMC sells Ford-branded sport-utility vehicles (SUV) and vans along with JMC-branded commercial vehicles.

The ventures also saw sales increase in April and May, putting Ford on track for its first quarterly growth since the third quarter of 2017. It said the aging model lineup contributed to the sales slide.

Ford’s rival General Motors stated its sales in China declined 5.3% between April and June.