BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese automaker SAIC Motor Corporation Limited reported Tuesday a 15.88 percent year-on-year decline in its overall sales in March, despite its strong performance last year.
SAIC Motor sold 558,558 vehicles in March, according to the company's report filed to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Auto production in March dropped 17.96 percent year on year to 573,389 vehicles.
Last year, SAIC Motor sold 7.05 million vehicles, up 1.8 percent from 2017. Meanwhile, its profits rose 4.65 percent despite a decline in the country's overall automobile sales.
China sold 28.08 million autos last year, down 2.76 percent year on year, remaining the world's largest auto market, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed.
SAIC Motor's shares in Shanghai rose 1.78 percent Tuesday.