Sharp hike for Hyundai-Kia

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group sold nearly 130,000 locally made vehicles in China last month, an increase of 27 percent over a year ago. Hyundai's local joint venture delivered 83,500 vehicles for the month while Kia's partnership sold 45,855. First quarter sales by the South Korean company totaled nearly 400,000 vehicles in China, a surge of 40 percent year-on-year.

Ford sales double in first quarter Ford's joint venture in China with Chang'an Automobile Group reported sales of 237,000 cars in the first three months this year, nearly double its delivery in the same period last year. The US carmaker put several new models on the China market in the past few months including the Kuga, Ecosport, Explorer SUVs and the new Focus compact.