Mercedes, Audi sales jump in March
Mercedes-Benz says March sales in China jumped 78 percent year-on-year to 15,242 units as the luxury segment continued to outperform the industry.
China now is Mercedes' third largest market, after the United States and Germany.
Sales of the Smart Fortwo soared sixfold compared with last year, although Mercedes did not release Smart's unit sales in China. To boost Smart sales, Mercedes launched an ad campaign this year featuring NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant.
Mercedes has introduced six Smart models in China with prices ranging from 115,000 yuan ($17,500) to 225,000 yuan.
Audi AG, China's largest luxury brand, sold 22,996 units in March. Volkswagen AG's premium brand did not provide a comparison with sales in March 2010.
However, Audi noted that its first-quarter sales of 64,122 units was nearly 25 percent higher than the year-earlier period.
BMW AG has not yet posted its March sales results.
