BMW says it expects sales in China this year to jump more than 60 per cent through its joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive.

"Our target is that for 2003, the increase will be more than 61 per cent. For China, we will more than double sales for the next five years," BMW chairman Helmut Panke says.

"The target is higher than for the Asian market as a whole.”

BMW's sales in China rose 61 per cent to 6,677 units last year despite tight import tariff controls.

At the 50-50 joint venture based in China's northeast Shenyang city, production of BMW's 3 and 5 series models are scheduled for October, with output targeted to reach 30,000 units a year.