FAW Volkswagen Audi plans to sell around 400,000 Audis in China this year, the Beijing Morning Post reported today. Dominique Boesch, general sales manager for FAW-Volkswagen Audi, believes that increasing demand from second- and third-tier markets will help balance the rising price of fuel and introduction of policies aimed at limiting the number of automobiles on the road. He is optimistic about FAW-VW Audi's prospects in the country, forecasting growth of approximately 30 percent in the luxury vehicle segment.

Mr. Boesch made the comments at last month's market debut ceremony for the new Audi A5 (pictured). The imported A5 has been one of the most recognizable of its segment in China, with 9,622 units sold in 2011. According to Mr. Boesch, the new A5 is only one of the new imports available for this year. FAW-VW will also be bringing over other Audis to further diversify the brand's line up, including a brand new hybrid-powered car.

Mr. Boesch states that its more widely produced vehicles will be made in China, while vehicles made in smaller numbers will be brought over as imports. He hopes that by 2015 Audi's entire product line will be available in the country.

Despite continuing growth, the luxury segment only accounts for around eight percent of all sales China, far less than in developed markets. 700,000 Chinese Audis are expected to be manufactured annually by 2015, with 150,000 of those to be made at FAW-VW's Foshan production site in Guangdong. The new A6L is scheduled to make its market debut by end of the month, followed by domestically made versions of the A3 and Q3.