BMW China sales up 63.2% to 9,013 units in Aug

Shanghai, September 11 (Gasgoo.com) BMW, the world's largest premium car maker, said today its August car sales in mainland China surged 63.2% from a year earlier, Reuters reported.

Mainland China sales of BMW and Minis came to 9,013 units last month, up from 5,523 units a year earlier, it said in a statement. From January to August, a total of 54,263 cars were sold, up 31.3%.

Sales of BMW brands rose 32% to 51,832 units, including 27,631 BMW 3-Series and 5-Series cars made in the Chinese venture BMW Brilliance. Sales of Minis increased 22% to 2,431 units.

In the Greater China area, including mainland China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong, BMW sold 58,663 vehicles in the first eight months, up 23% from a year earlier.

BMW said earlier this week that its global sales in August fell 9.7% year on year to 91,790 units, and said it was "cautiously optimistic" about returning to growth soon.

BMW operates an auto manufacturing venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd in the northern Chinese city of Shenyang.