Joint ventures with Volkswagon (VOW.FRA) and General Motors (GM.NYSE) paid off in the first half of the year for Chinese automaker SAIC Motor (600104.SHA), helping the company post 6% growth during the period, South China Morning Post reported. Partnering with two of the most aggressive car makers in the market, SAIC sold 2.6 million vehicles in the first half, a year-on-year jump of 15%, according to a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Analysts had projected 12%. GM and VW are vying with each other to top the sales chart in the world’s biggest vehicle market.