(Yicai Global) April 7 -- China sales at several overseas carmakers showed signs of recovery last month as the fallback from the Covid-19 pandemic began to subside.

Toyota new car sales fell 15.9 percent annually to 101,800 in China last month, compared with an annual decline of 70.2 percent in February, the Japanese firm said. The slowing decline was apparent in all of its models, including those under luxury marque Lexus.

Lang Xuehong, deputy secretary general of the China Automobile Dealers Association, predicted passenger vehicle sales in the country would total about 1 million units in March, up from just 200,000 in February, Securities Daily cited him as saying. The central government has also brought in favorable policies, such as extending subsidies for new-energy vehicles to 2022, in a bid to help boost the numbers.

China sales at Honda Motor were 60,441 last month, falling 50.8 percent from a year earlier after diving 85 percent in February. Mazda Motor sales for March dipped 28.3 percent to 12,958 units, compared with 79 percent the month prior.

Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors saw similar scenarios. Sales at Beijing Hyundai Motor fell 22 percent to 34,890 in March after a 79 percent slide in February. Dongfeng Yueda Kia Motor sold 15,370 cars in March, down 38 percent, following an 87 percent plummet in February.

Editor: James Boynton