Vehicle sales rise 8.8 pct in April

China's vehicle sales increased 8.8 percent year-on-year in April, an industry association said on Friday, as foreign automakers, including Ford Motor Co, continue to cash in on local demand, despite the country's slowing economy.

China sold 2 million vehicles in the month in total, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported, led by an 11.6 percent year-on-year increase in cars to 1.6 million.

Ford said this week that sales at its Chinese joint ventures increased 29 percent in April, following a 28 percent year-on-year rise in March, and a 67 percent increase in February.