GM China sales up 68% in March

General Motors sold 230,048 vehicles in China in March, up 68% year-on-year, the Wall Street Journal reported. The sales numbers, in comparison with total US sales of 188,011 vehicles, helped to make China the automaker’s largest market so far this year. First-quarter sales in China rose 71% to 623,546 units, while sales in the US grew 16% to 475,253 units. A weak first quarter in 2009 helps to explain the year-on-year increase. Notably, however, the new sales numbers are strong despite the raising of the purchase tax on cars with engine displacements of up to 1.6 liters to 7.5% at the beginning of this year. Last year, Beijing cut the purchase tax from 10% to 5% to spur growth in the automotive sector.