General Motors Corp. and its joint ventures sold 453,832 vehicles in China in the first half of this year, up 47 percent over a year earlier, the company said Tuesday.

Beset by declining profits and growing competition back home, the world''s biggest automaker has sought to cash in on a rebound in auto sales in China by rolling out new and upgraded models under several brand names.

Sales of GM''s popular Excelle sedan climbed 38.7 percent year-on-year in the first half to 145,786 units, GM said.

Sales of the Sail and other Chevrolet models surged 81.4 percent to 75,710, it said.

GM sold 308,722 vehicles in China in the first half of 2005. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)