BEIJING - General Motors said on Saturday it sold 685,583 vehicles in China in the first quarter, up 10 percent from a year earlier.

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Sales came to 233,014 units in March, the automaker said in a statement. That represents a 1.3 percent climb from a year earlier.

The world's largest auto market is returning to a more rational growth pattern since Beijing stripped away most of its policy incentives at the end of last year.

Toyota Motor sold 208,000 cars in China in the first three months, up 16.3 percent from a year earlier.

GM, the largest overseas automaker in China, operates manufacturing ventures in the country with SAIC Motor Corp and FAW Group, making cars, light commercial vehicles and minivans.