UPDATE: Automakers Boost Sales in China

Most major foreign carmakers are reporting bigger year-over-year sales increases in China for April than they did for March.

General Motors Co. hiked its sales in China 12% to a record 222,200 vehicles last month. The company's volume was buoyed by a 22% jump to 117,800 units for its Wuling minivehicles and sales of 6,000 units by its new Baojun brand.

Volkswagen says deliveries of its namesake brand in April rose 14% to 169,900 vehicles.

Toyota sales in China soared 68% to 82,000 vehicles. Last month's results compare to unusually low volume in April 2011 after Japan's earthquake and tsunami disrupted operations.

Ford posted a 24% increase to 54,900 units in April. Sales climbed 30% to 34,100 units Its Changan Ford Mazda venture and 16% to 20,800 units at its Jiangling Motors commercial vehicle venture.

China's overall demand for luxury vehicles remains strong. Volume jumped 44% to 34,200 units at VW's Audi brand and 31% to 27,200 vehicles for the BMW Group. But Mercedes-Benz says its car sales fell 11% to 14,700 units because of a shortage of vehicles during model changeovers.