(Yicai Global) July 21 -- Volkswagen AG [FWB:VOW] delivered close to 1.83 million cars to customers in China in the first half, and more than 88,000 of them were imported from foreign countries, the Chinese division of the German carmaker said in a semi-annual sales report on July 19.

Sales grew steadily in the second quarter, and the New Lavida topped the list of VW's bestselling models in the first half, with sales totaling 212,000. 

"After the market's slow start to the year, we are seeing sustainable growth in recent months.," said Jochem Heizmann, a member of the Volkswagen's management board and president and chief executive of its Chinese division. "That's been reflected in good results across all the group's brands in June."

"We continue to focus on exciting Chinese customers by transforming our core business, with the ongoing roll-out of our SUV [sports utility vehicle] offensive, first localized plug-in hybrids and important new partnerships in the areas of digitalization, connectivity and e-mobility," Heizmann said.

"Recent cooperation agreements with JAC [Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co.] in battery electric vehicles, Mobvoi in artificial intelligence and with charging providers show we are making good progress towards a sustainable future as a comprehensive provider of people centered mobility solutions and we are determined to continue on that course," said Heizmann.

Audi delivered 254,800 cars to China in the first half, down 12.2 percent annually. Skoda delivered 134,000 units in the period, a decline of 8.1 percent. The Czech automaker released a new model, the Kodiaq, in late April. Its Octavia Wagen is slated to come on the market later this year. On the luxury car market, Porsche delivered nearly 36,000 vehicle in the first half, up 17.8 percent.