CHANGCHUN - China's leading automaker First Automotive Works (FAW) Group Co Ltd said sales of its iconic brand Hongqi surpassed 153,000 units in the first 10 months of this year, up 103 percent year-on-year.

The automaker sold 23,000 cars of the brand in October, an increase of 93 percent year-on-year, indicating a rising demand for the vehicle.

Hongqi's sales exceeded 100,000 vehicles last year. The company has set sales targets of 200,000 cars this year and 600,000 in 2025.

Founded in 1953 in the northeastern city of Changchun, capital of Jilin province, FAW Group is regarded as the cradle of China's auto industry.