Chinese carmaker Chery sales up 17% in sluggish market

Chery's corporate logo is seen in a car at a service center in Caracas May 25, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

HEFEI - Chinese carmaker Chery posted robust growth on Wednesday, despite a sluggish auto market performance.

Chery said its sales in the first half of 2015 surged 17 percent from the same period last year, with 252,439 vehicles sold in the first six months.

Chery's strong sales stood out in the sluggish Chinese auto market.

China's total car sales rose only 1.4 percent in the first half this year, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Chery exported 50,130 passenger vehicles between January and June. The company's overseas sales made up 26.7 percent of the exports of Chinese brand passenger vehicles.

Jin Yibo, a senior executive at Chery, attributed the strong sales to the company's strategic transformation.

"The company has made significant improvement in products quality and marketing ability," Jin said.