Volvo Car Corp.'s China sales surged nearly 23 percent from a year earlier to 7,228 vehicles in January.

 

The company said the increase was led by strong demand for the imported XC90 crossover and two locally built models: the XC60 crossover and the long-wheelbase S60 sedan.

 

The XC60 and S60L are produced in Volvo's plant in the southwest China city of Chengdu. Volvo also builds the XC Classic, the previous generation of the XC90, in its factory in the northeast China city of Daqing.

 

Volvo did not disclose model-by-model sales for January.

 

China now is Volvo's largest market. Worldwide, the Swedish brand sold 33,761 vehicles last month, up 9.4 percent from a year earlier.

 

While it's unclear whether Volvo gained market share in January, the company likely will take comfort in rising sales after flat demand in 2015. Last year, Volvo deliveries in China stayed virtually flat at 81,588 vehicles.

 

Volvo is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., a private Chinese carmaker. Volvo and Geely have been working together to expand Volvo's presence in China.

 

Geely funded joint development of a new platform called Scalable Product Architecture, which will produce new models for both companies. In December, Volvo unveiled the S90 sedan, and Geely will introduce its own model in March at the Geneva auto show.