Ford says August China auto sales rise 9%

SHANGHAI: Ford Motor Co and its Chinese joint ventures sold 77,506 vehicles in China in August, up 9 per cent from a year earlier, outpacing industry growth of 6.7 per cent for the same month in the world's biggest auto market.

That follows a 25 per cent year-on-year rise in July and a 17 per cent increase in June.

Ford's sales in the first eight months of the year totaled 717,537 vehicles, up 30 per cent from the same period a year earlier, the US carmaker said on Friday.

Ford's China sales have been bolstered by strong growth in SUV models, the Ford Kuga and Ford EcoSport.

Ford plans to launch its premium Lincoln brand in China later this year, with plans to open eight Lincoln retail outlets in seven Chinese cities starting in October.

Ford makes vehicles in China in partnership with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd and Jiangling Motors Corp Ltd.