BMW, the world's largest premium car maker, said on Friday its August car sales in mainland China surged 63.2 percent from a year earlier.

Sales of BMW and Minis came to 9,013 units last month, up from 5,523 units a year earlier, it said in a statement.

From January to August, a total of 54,263 cars were sold, up 31.3 percent.

Sales of BMW brands rose 32 percent to 51,832 units, including 27,631 BMW 3 Series and 5 Series cars made in mainland China. Sales of Minis increased 22 percent to 2,431 units, it said.

In the Greater China area, including mainland China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong, BMW sold 58,663 vehicles in the first eight months, up 23 percent from a year earlier, it added.

BMW operates a manufacturing venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd in the northern Chinese city of Shenyang.

(Reporting by Fang Yan; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

China