BERLIN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Audi sold around 1.9 million cars worldwide last year, increasing deliveries by 17.4 percent year-on-year, the company said on Thursday.

In China, the company's biggest single market, deliveries rose by 13.5 percent to more than 729,000 vehicles.

The German carmaker said it had benefited from an "improved supply situation."

"We saw strong growth, particularly in our core markets of Europe, the USA and China, while continuing to pick up speed in electrification," said Hildegard Wortmann, member of Audi's board of management for sales and marketing.

In Europe, Audi sales increased by 19.7 percent to almost 748,000 vehicles, despite a "challenging market environment."

In the United States, Audi achieved its best annual sales record with a growth of 22.3 percent to around 229,000 cars. Demand was particularly high for fully electric models, with deliveries increasing by around 55 percent to 25,000.

This year, the German premium car maker will have a "clear focus on electromobility."

"We recognize that 2024 will be a challenging year due to increased competition and global economic uncertainties," said Audi CEO Gernot Doellner.

Meanwhile, the construction of a new production site in the northeastern Chinese city of Changchun is "going ahead at full speed," an Audi spokesperson told Xinhua on Thursday, adding that Audi FAW NEV Company Ltd "plays a central role in the electrification strategy" of Audi in China.

In June 2022, the joint venture between Audi and its Chinese partner FAW started the construction of the new production site which can produce around 150,000 vehicles a year for the Chinese market. The new factory will produce only fully electric Audi models. ■