BEIJING - Multi-brand German carmaker Volkswagen AG announced Monday that it sold 2.81 million vehicles to Chinese customers in 2012, up 24.5 percent year-on-year.

Volkswagen Group China, along with its two Chinese joint ventures Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co and FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co, sold 2.81 million vehicles on the mainland and in Hong Kong, including 189,200 imported ones, the company said.

Among the group's buoyant sales, a total of 2.15 million units were Volkswagen models, up 25 percent from a year ago. Sales of the group's sub-brands Audi and Skoda climbed 29.6 percent and 7.1 percent in 2012, respectively, data showed.

Volkswagen's subsidiary luxury brands also witnessed strong sales last year. Lamborghini and Bentley sold 320 and 2,200 units, respectively. Porsche had 13,000 vehicles delivered in China since its merger with Volkswagen in August.

The growth of sales outstripped the overall market performance, said Jochem Heizmann, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China. He added that the success in China was crucial to the company's future strategies.

Ahead of Germany, China remains Volkswagen's largest single market.

China's auto sales last year hit 19.31 million units, up 4.33 percent year-on-year, according to the country's auto industry association.

Related Readings

China, biggest customer for VW luxury cars

VW reshuffle reflects China market's power

VW's latest tech, continued growth

VW starts up used car unit