AUDI'S sales in China have reached record levels.

The company is expecting to achieve a sales volume of about 62,000 units by the end of the year, including about 52,000 A6 and 8,000 A4 models manufactured locally. Last year's sales reached 36,492.

From January to November, sales rose to more than 56,000 units, an increase of 69% compared with the same period last year.

Erich Schmitt, member of the board of management of Audi, said: 'Our business in China has reached new heights. Production is running at full capacity and our sales figures are increasing rapidly.

'In November we were able to practically double sales of our premium models to Chinese customers (up 95% compared with the same month last year) and, with 6,099 units sold, have set another new sales record.'

Audi has been present in China since 1988 and alongside the A6, the A4 has been produced at the Changchun plant since April 2003. The A8, A4 Cabriolet, allroad and TT are imported. The new A8, including the long-wheelbase version, was introduced in October.

China is now the third biggest market for the A8 after Germany and the USA. About 1,000 A8 models will be sold there this year.