Ford Motor Co said its China vehicle sales increased 3 per cent in April-June from a year earlier, its first quarterly sales rise in the world`s biggest auto market in almost three years.

Ford has been seeking to recover from a slump in sales unprecedented for a major global automaker in China, with sales sinking 26 per cent last year after a 37 per cent drop in 2018.

Company sources have previously said those sales were hurt by an aging model lineup, a breakdown in relationships with its joint venture partners and dealers, as well as missteps by past management teams.

China sales for the second quarter climbed to 158,589 units, Ford said in a statement, attributing the rise to a stronger vehicle lineup including new sport-utility vehicles and locally-made luxury Lincoln cars and "strong demand following the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions".

By contrast, rival General Motors said its sales in China for the quarter declined 5.3 per cent to 713,600 units.

Industry-wide vehicle wholesale sales rose 4.4 per cent in April and 14.5 per cent in May and are expected to grow 11 per cent in June, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers has said.

In China, Ford makes cars through its joint ventures with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd and Jiangling Motors Corp Ltd (JMC).

In the United States, where sales have been hit by lockdowns and travel restrictions, Ford`s sales plunged 33 per cent during the quarter.