Volvo Car Corp.’s sales in China, its largest market, staged a strong rebound in April, jumping 21 percent to 14,724.
The coronavirus outbreak has been largely contained in China since mid-March. Showroom traffic at its local dealerships “began to return to normal levels” last month, the Swedish carmaker said.
Because of a steep decline in the first quarter, Volvo’s China deliveries through April still dropped 16 percent to 35,504.
China was the only market where the Swedish brand realized growth in April.
With demand hit hard in Europe and the United States, Volvo’s global deliveries plunged 44 percent to 56,535 during the month. In the first four months, worldwide sales fell 25 percent to 163,649 cars and light trucks, Volvo said.
Volvo, owned by private Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, has maintained strong growth in the past several years. In 2019, its China deliveries advanced 19 percent to 154,961.
In April, Cadillac’s deliveries in China rose 14 percent to 16,273, said SAIC-GM, General Motors’ car joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp., without divulging the brand’s local sales in the first four months.
Other luxury automotive brands, including market leaders Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW, haven’t disclosed April sales for the Chinese market.