Ford Motor Co. and its Chinese partners said on Jan. 7 that sales rose a record 44% year-on-year in 2009, with more than 440,000 vehicles sold.

Ford's passenger car joint-venture in China, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile, sold 315,791 units last year, an increase of 55% over the previous year.

The joint venture's sales were boosted by tax cuts on small engine vehicles that strengthened demand for the Focus compact car and the Fiesta subcompact, the auto maker said.

Sales at Ford's commercial vehicle joint venture, Jiangling Motors Corp, totaled 114,688 units,  rising 21% from 2008.

China overtook the United States a year ago to become the largest car market in the world, boosted by Beijing's efforts to stimulate domestic consumption. The country's auto sales for the first 11 months of the year reached 12.23 million units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Market leader General Motors, announced this week it sold a record 1.83 million vehicles in China last year, and expressed optimism for even better results in 2010. GM's results marked a 66.9% sales jump year-on-year.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010