BEIJING - FORD Motor Co said on Monday its sales in China surged 14 per cent in the first half of 2009 on strong demand for passenger cars.

Sales totaled 197,212 vehicles, a new half-year record, Ford said. It said passenger car sales soared 55 per cent in June from the same month of 2008.

Global automakers are counting on China's relatively healthy demand to help drive revenues as the industry struggles in North America and other major markets.

Sales in China have been helped by government incentives including sales tax cuts and subsidies for replacing older vehicles.

Sales outpaced those of the United States for the first four months of the year, though China bell back to second place in May due to a jump in US purchases. -- AP