Audi AG's China sales rose 6.6 percent year on year in June to 51,008 vehicles -- enough to remain the country's top-selling luxury brand, although it lost market share.

 

BMW AG deliveries increased nearly 13 percent last month to 45,300 vehicles, while Mercedes sales jumped more than 21 percent to 39,462 car and light trucks.

 

Audi, in a statement, said its sales gain was fueled by two compact models, the A3 sedan and the Q3 crossover.

 

In the first six months, Audi sales in China increased 5.9 percent to 290,126. During the same period, Mercedes deliveries increased 33 percent to 219,999 vehicles, and BMW sales rose 7 percent to 247,600 vehicles.

 

Audi hopes to maintain momentum this year when it introduces a redesigned version of the long-wheelbase A4 compact sedan. The new A4 will compete with the Mercedes C-Class sedan, which has been a hot seller since the company launched output in China.