BMW, the world's largest maker of luxury cars, said 2007 sales in China jumped 42 percent as economic growth spurred demand.

The firm sold 51,588 vehicles including 49,388 BMWs and 2,200 Minis in Chinese mainland last year.

BMW plans to raise capacity at its China plant by 45 percent over the next few months and will then be able to produce a total of 44,000 units a year, the company said.