Porsche AG's China sales rose 3.7 percent year on year to 30,440 vehicles in the first six months -- evidence that red-hot demand for the company's models early this year has cooled.

 

In the first three months, Porsche deliveries had risen 24 percent on strong demand for the Macan and Cayenne crossovers. Those two models generate as much as three-fourths of Porsche's volume in China, a sizzling market for crossovers.

 

Now the company is trying to boost demand in China for the iconic 911 sports car, its top-selling model in Germany. Porsche plans to open a driving experience center in Shanghai this year to allow potential car buyers to test-drive vehicles on the performance track.

 

The company has also added more features on the four-door Panamera without raising prices. 

 

Porsche, which had 90 Chinese dealerships last year, will open new stores in smaller cities where it doesn't have a presence. It also plans to add additional stores in cities such as Guangzhou, where it already operates dealerships.

 

Among other Volkswagen Group brands, Audi's China sales rose 5.9 percent to 290,126 in the first six months. Volkswagen has not yet posted June China sales data for its other brands.