WUHAN -- Sales at Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company Ltd rose to a new monthly record in September as Chinese customers snubbed Japanese cars.

The 50-50 joint venture between Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor Corp and French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen sold 42,728 cars last month, up 9.2 percent year-on-year and up 32 percent month-on-month, according to a company statement Wednesday.

Sales in the first three quarters also hit a record high of 312,728 units, up 7.1 percent from a year ago.

The boost in sales is seen as a result of the Diaoyu Islands issue. Anger towards Japan grew in China after the Japanese government's "purchase" of part of the Diaoyu Islands on Sept 11.

This drove many Chinese buyers to purchase US and European cars, boosting sales of other brands.

Japan carmakers' market shrinks:

Japan carmakers to cut China production by half
Japan's 'island purchase' to affect trade ties
Diaoyu row hurts Japanese car sales in China