German Volkswagen Group reported a nearly 40 percent year on year increase in sales volume in China in the first quarter of this year.

Latest statistics show that Volkswagen Group and its two Chinese cooperative partners, Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company Ltd, sold 164,339 units of vehicles in the January-March period this year, compared with 118,030 units in the corresponding period of 2005, the Economic Information Daily said on Monday.

Windfreid Vahland, CEO of Volkswagen (China), attributed the rising sales to its cooperation with Chinese partners.

The regrouping of business in China and the introduction of more new car models catering to the need of the 2008 Olympic Games are also a factor, he said.

"We are looking forward to continuously maintaining the growth of sales in the next few months so as to realize the goal set for 2006," he said.

Figures also indicate that Volkswagen sold 19,011 units of Audi cars in the first three months, with imported ones standing at 733 units, and the home-made ones 18,278 units.

Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen plan to introduce 10 to 12 new car models in China by 2009.

Source: Xinhua