Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, expects that China will overtake Germany as its largest market this year, Audi's sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said on March 9th, according to a news report.

In the period from January to February, Audi's vehicle sales in China jumped 86% year on year to 31,906 units, exceeding sales in Germany, which totaled 27,304 units in the period. Last year's sales in China rose 33% year on year to 157,188 units.

Audi's sales volumes in China and Germany will likely be similar in the coming years but will depend on the new models to be launched in the two countries, Schwarzenbauer said. In the long run, the Chinese market has great growth potential, and is expected to become Audi's largest sales market, he added.

The auto maker is planning to expand its production capacity in China to cope with increasing demand in the world's largest auto market, according to an earlier report.

The increased capacity is expected to help Audi realize its annual sales target of 250,000 units by 2012 or 2013.