MUNICH, Germany, July 4 -- German car producer Audi AG has achieved new record sales figures in the Chinese market in the first half of 2014, selling 268,666 automobiles, Audi announced on Friday.

It is an increase of 17.8 percent year on year, according to the announcement.

In addition, Audi sold 50,756 cars in China in June, an increase of 14.1 percent year on year. It is the first time for the four rings to sell more than 50,000 cars in China in one month.

"We have thus strengthened our position as the leading premium brand in China," stated Luca de Meo, member of the board of management for sales at Audi.

"We are well on the way to achieve our target of delivering significantly more than half a million cars to customers in China this year." He continued.

An important factor for the large sales in the first half of the year is the production of cars locally in China.