Volkswagen Sets China Sales Record (GM, F)

German carmaker Volkswagen AG sold 2.26 million vehicles in China and Hong Kong during 2011, up 18% year-over-year and a new record for the company. China is the company’s largest market for its Volkswagen nameplate, its Audi brand, and Lamborghini.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) sells more vehicles in China than any other foreign automaker. Sales in 2011 were up 8.3% in 2011 to 2.55 million units. Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) sold about 520,000 units in China in 2011, an increase of 7% from 2010 sales.

Chinese buyers are estimated to be in the market for 15.9 million units in 2012, a jump of 9.5% over 2011 sales. Vehicle sales have cooled considerably in the world’s most populous country, where annual sales growth hit 53% in 2009, 33% in 2010, and just 5.2% last year.