Sales of luxury cars see double-digit growth in H1

Shanghai, July 15 (Gasgoo.com) While the world's major auto markets were still in a slump, luxury auto brands were selling well in China from January to June, with Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi all achieving double-digit growth in the first half this year, xinhuanet.com reported today.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), Mercedes Benz sold 27,000 vehicles in the first six months in mainland China, up 50% from a year earlier.

Sales of Audi rose 28% year-on-year (y/y) to 13,077 units last month, setting the firm's June sales record in China. Audi sold 66,131 units in the first half, up 10.4% y/y, making up 40% of the luxury car market.

Last month, sales of BMW series and Mini series rose by 44% y/y to 8, 506 units in China. The sales of BMW and Mini combined grew by 24% to 37,627 units in the first half.

China's overall auto production in June came to 1,153,100 units and sales reached 1,142,100 units, up 37.73% and 36.48% respectively from a year earlier.

The CAAM said last week that the Chinese auto industry association had raised the country's auto output forecast for 2009 from 10.2 million units to 11 million units.