By Li Fangfang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-11 16:22

Volkswagen Group China yesterday posted record-high sales for 2007, moving 28 percent more units than the previous year.

The carmaker delivered 910,491 vehicles in China last year, up from 711,360 units in 2006.

Combined with its two joint ventures Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen, it took an 18 percent share of China's passenger car market.

Sales of the Volkswagen brand amounted to 780,784 units, including 9,067 imported vehicles - 24 percent higher than 628,807 cars a year earlier. Audi's 2007 sales soared 25 percent, with 101,996 vehicles delivered to customers including 8,828 imported units. Meanwhile, Skoda sold 27,325 cars, with 213 vehicles imported.

"Our outstanding performance as a result of our restructuring measures gives us confidence that we will break the 1-million-mark with our sales in 2008," Winfried Vahland, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said.

Analysts predicted sales of China-made vehicles would hit 8.7 or 8.8 million units in 2007 from 7.2 million in 2006. Passenger car sales in 2007 are expected to exceed 5 million units.

"Our growth will be supported by new models which will be introduced this year," he added.