Audi, China's top luxury brand, says sales jumped 37 percent to 313,036 units in China and Hong Kong last year.

Sales were propped by the three models that Audi produces in China: extended-wheelbase versions the Audi A4 and Audi A6 sedans, plus the Audi Q5 SUV. Sales of the three models topped 252,000 units in 2011, representing nearly 81 percent of Audi's total sales in China.

"This figure has yet again outstripped our sales forecast by some distance," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi's board member for marketing and sales. "Particularly the premium segment in China is making very healthy progress. In our view it continues to offer very good growth potential."

Volkswagen AG, Audi's corporate parent, reported that sales of VW brand vehicles in China rose nearly 14 percent last year to 1.7 million units. Volkswagen is China's best-selling brand.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz reported that sales in China and Hong Kong rose nearly 31 percent to 193,339 units last year.

Other luxury brands did well, too. Cadillac's sales in China, for example, soared 73 percent last year to 30,008 units.

BMW AG has yet to disclose its China sales for 2011.