Ford says July auto sales rise

Ford Motor Co and its Chinese joint ventures sold 90,775 vehicles in China in July, up 25 percent from a year earlier, far outpacing industry growth of 6.7 percent for the same month in the world's biggest auto market.

Ford's sales in the first seven months of 2014 totaled 640,031 vehicles, up 33 percent from the same period last year, the firm said on Friday.

Ford's China sales have been bolstered by strong growth in SUV models, the Ford Kuga and Ford EcoSport, whose sales have risen 63 percent and 83 percent, respectively, so far this year.

Ford plans to launch its premium brand Lincoln in China later this year, with plans to open eight Lincoln retail outlets in seven Chinese cities starting in October.