Audi sold 124,520 units during 1Q 2014 in China—an increase of 21.1% compared with the prior-year period, and its best first quarter there.

Audi began China production of the A3 Sportback in March; production of the A3 Sedan will start in the summer. Together with the Audi Q3, which has been produced in China since November 2012, Audi offers the broadest range of cars in this segment from local production. Audi is also the only premium manufacturer to produce two SUVs locally, the Audi Q3 and the Q5.

We are the first premium manufacturer to locally produce and sell three models in the premium compact segment in China. We have thus once again demonstrated Audi’s pioneering role in our second home market.

Audi posted 47,636 sales in March, with the locally produced Audi Q3 going to 5,511 customers. The China-specific long-wheelbase versions of the Audi A6 and A4 saw sales of 14,002 units (up 15.4%) and 10,004 units (up 16.9%).

The locally produced Audi Q5 sold 8,831 units (up 14.3%). Audi also sold 9,288 imported models in March, an increase of 44.1%.

Models produced in Changchun—Audi A4 L, A6 L, Q5 and Q3—reached the new record of 103,113 cars delivered in the first quarter, representing an increase of 21.0% compared with the prior-year period. With sales of 25,364 units, the Audi Q5 was the bestselling premium SUV in China (up 8.6%). Unit sales of imported Audi automobiles rose by 21.7% to 21,407 vehicles.

Audi put its second plant in China into operation in Foshan in late 2013.