Audi AG's China deliveries edged up 4.2 percent year on year to 88,554 cars and light trucks in January and February -- a modest upturn that nevertheless failed to match the industry's sales growth.

 

Over the same period, industrywide sales of light vehicles rose 5.1 percent.

 

Audi, in a statement, noted that it is rolling out a number of redesigned models, which should help sales this year. But the German luxury brand has failed to match the growth rate of its rivals, BMW AG and Mercedes-Benz.

 

In the first two months, BMW deliveries rose nearly 13 percent to 80,215 units. Mercedes sales jumped 43 percent to 68,508 vehicles.

 

While Audi remains China's top-selling luxury brand, it has been hurt by President Xi Jinping's campaign to discourage bureaucrats and party officials from using foreign luxury cars.

 

Audi has catered to China's affluent female consumers by expanding its palette of colors and advertising in fashion magazines. The brand also has enjoyed strong demand for crossovers such as the Audi Q5.

 

But BMW and Mercedes have expanded their own model lineups, and Mercedes has enjoyed strong demand for its C-class compact sedan, which is now assembled in China.