Porsche expects strong sales growth in China

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German sports car maker Porsche (PSHG_p.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) anticipates further strong growth in mainland China after doubling unit sales to 3,105 units in the fiscal year to end-July.

"Porsche again expects a growth rate in the high double-digits in China in the current business year," it said in a statement.

After opening its first Porsche Center in 2001, it now has 19 throughout the country and plans to reach 30 by the end of December.

"China is playing an increasingly significant role and has now become one of Porsche's most important growth drivers worldwide," said its head of sales and marketing, Klaus Berning.

Volumes in China account for about 4 percent of total sales, according to the company.

The Beijing motor show begins on Sunday, April 20.

(Reporting by Christiaan Hetzner, editing by Will Waterman)