Audi July unit sales up 16 pct, driven by China

FRANKFURT Aug 5 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) premium car brand Audi sold 16 percent more cars in July than a year earlier, thanks mostly to growth in China, Audi said on Friday.

July sales in China were up 35.2 percent at 27,767 vehicles, accounting for more than a quarter of group sales, it said.

German makers of high-end cars such as Audi, BMW (BMWG.DE) and Mercedes-Benz (DAIGn.DE) have benefited from wealthy Chinese consumers' appetite for luxury goods.

Audi's group vehicle sales grew 17.4 percent in the first seven months of the year, helped by 29.2 percent growth in China, a 25.2 percent gain in France and a 15.4 percent gain in its German home market. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan)