China Becomes Audi's Top Market with 37% Growth

The luxury division of Germany’s Volkswagen sold 313,036 vehicles in China in 2011, a 37% jump over 2010. The new figure makes China, including Hong Kong, the world’s biggest market for the Audi brand, surpassing even its home market.

A big part of Audi’s surprising success in China is attributable to the popularity of its high-end Q7 and A8L luxury cars, which sold, respectively, 19,063 and 12,425 units, representing year-on-year growth of 70% and 153%.

Audi’s success also represents the success of China’s automotive manufacturing sector in moving upmarket. Eighty percent, or 252,000, of the Audi’s sold in China were manufactured in its Changchun joint-venture factories. Changchun is located in northeastern China.

Audi will build a second factory complex in Foshan, in southeastern Guangdong province, it recently announced. The plant is expected to begin operating in 2013 and produce 150,000-200,000 vehicles annually for the China market.