Porsche to add dealerships in China as sales rise

Shanghai, February 21 (Gasgoo.com) German sports-car maker Porsche plans to increase the number of its dealerships in China this year by 13 after its sales doubled from a year earlier to a record 1,900 units in January, media reported.

Porsche SE, which counts China as its third biggest market, said it aims to sell over 10,000 cars in the country this year as rising wealth makes luxury vehicles more affordable, said Helmut Broeker, chief executive officer of Porsche (China) Motors Ltd. 

Last year, Porsche's sales in the Chinese market rose around 9% to 9,090 units, and last month its China sales surged to a record 1,900 units, doubling its sales volume in China of a year earlier.

Porsche expects China to surpass Germany to become its second biggest market by 2012, with estimated sales of almost 16,000 units, after this year's target of over 10,000 cars.

The company is adding dealers and introducing new models to compete more effectively with Mercedes-Benz and BMW, as well as other luxury carmakers in the Chinese market, said Broeker.

Porsche's headquarters in China has officially settled in Pudong Lujiazui Software Park, Shanghai. The headquarters building is tailored to Porsche's requirements for marketing and office work.