Audi China H1 sales up 11% to record 66,866 units

Shanghai, July 6 (Gasgoo.com) Volkswagen's premium brand Audi said its sales in China increased by 11% from a year earlier to a record 66,866 vehicles in the first half of this year, Reuters reported today.

In June alone, Audi sales in China, the brand's largest export market, rose 28% to 13,265 vehicles, also an all-time high for that month.

"This sales record shows us that we've made the right choices for the Chinese market, and that our model strategy is matched to the tastes of the Chinese customer," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, head of sales for Audi.

Audi China sales in the first half was fuelled by a 26% growth in deliveries of the Audi A4L, which is based on Audi's popular mid-size saloon and features a longer wheelbase. The Audi A4L is built in Changchun city, home to VW's Chinese partner FAW Group, exclusively for the Chinese market.

As a premium auto market leader in China, Audi sold 119,598 cars last year in the country. Currently it has 137 dealerships in 95 Chinese cities and expects to open 16 new "terminal" showrooms built in the style of an airport hangar.