Germany's top three premium automakers posted strong sales growth in China in the first quarter, tapping demand for luxury products in the world's largest car market.
Audi, the premium arm of Volkswagen, said deliveries rose 77 percent in the quarter to a record 51,449 vehicles, marking the first time sales had exceeded 50,000 units in a single three-month period.
"This result means we have further extended our market lead in China's premium segment," said Audi sales and marketing chief Peter Schwarzenbauer.
Locally built cars -- including long-wheelbase versions of the Audi A4 and A6 models and the Audi Q5 offroader -- grew 70 percent overall, while sales of imported cars advanced 145 percent to 6,898 cars, an Audi statement said.
BMW's group sales in China more than doubled to 34,179 vehicles in the quarter, it said.
Daimler said Chinese market sales of its Mercedes-Benz brand swelled 105 percent to 24,100 units.
A humming economy and policy incentives helped China post solid auto sales in March, but growth could hit the slow lane in the second quarter as momentum eases from last year's breakneck pace.
