BEIJING -- China's pickup truck sales continued their strong growth momentum in March amid the steady recovery of the country's economy, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shows.

A total of 52,000 units were sold in March, up 56 percent year-on-year and registering 65 percent month-on-month growth from February, according to the CPCA.

Pickup truck sales entered their peak season after the Spring Festival, driven by increased demand from construction projects and companies. The market's March 2021 performance was relatively stable compared with the same period in 2018 and 2019, said the association.

Pickup trucks, which combine the features of passenger and commercial vehicles, have become increasingly popular in the country in recent years.

China has made efforts to facilitate the entry of pickup trucks into cities in recent years. In March, the country's commerce ministry issued a guideline calling on local authorities to promptly relax restrictions on the entry of pickup trucks into cities to further boost automobile consumption.

The country is also considering technical standards for the vehicles to guide their development to the household level.