By Martin Mou

SAIC Motor Corp.'s monthly sales returned to growth in June for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the Chinese auto market early this year.

June sales grew 2.8% from a year earlier to 479,464 units, although sales for the first six months of the year still fell 30%, the Chinese car maker said Monday.

Its sales decline had narrowed to 1.6% in May, compared with a plunge of 56% in the first quarter when the pandemic was at its peak in China.

June sales at the SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture, however, declined to 143,275 units from 154,009 units a year earlier.

SAIC's joint venture with General Motors Co., which produces Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet cars, sold 130,863 units last month, slightly down from 140,396 units a year earlier. 



  Write to Martin Mou at martin.mou@wsj.com