The viral outbreak that has largely paralyzed China Inc. is making it impossible for automakers and most other industries to normalize operations. Volkswagen Group, the largest carmaker in China, on Monday became the latest to postpone by another week the start of production at a joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp.

General Motors lost ground in China last month as its two joint ventures both underperformed the overall market. Sales at SAIC-GM, GM’s car joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp., slipped 30 percent to 125,464 in January, according to figures SAIC disclosed last week. 

Geely Automobile deliveries slumped 28 percent to 109,573 last month, with China’s largest domestic automaker losing ground in an overall light-vehicle market that fell 20 percent. 

Great Wall, one of China's biggest SUV makers, will sell vehicles from the GM plant in Thailand, a major light-truck market, as well as other ASEAN countries and Australia. The Baoding-based automaker is seeking to expand globally amid a slowing domestic market.