PARIS -- PSA Peugeot Citroen posted record sales in the first quarter in China by selling 142,000 vehicles, up 31 percent from first-quarter of 2012 in a market up 17.5 percent, the French carmaker confirmed in a statement on Friday.

The auto company reported the market share of 3.95 percent, a significant growth compared to the previous year.

Since 2009, the Chinese market has been the world's leading automobile market where the company's sales data showed the fastest growth trend seen in 2012, "when unit sales totalled 442,000 for an increase of 9.2 percent in a market up 7.2 percent," the carmaker said.

The sales of the Sino-French joint venture products contributed notably to the rising trend as the Dongfeng Peugeot-brand sales saw a sharp upswing to hit 24 percent.

To further develop the Chinese auto market, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Dongfeng DPCA announced the launch of two new models in the second half of 2013: the Citroen C-Elysee and the Peugeot 301. It will also increase production capacity at Wuhan with the inauguration of a third plant in July.

In addition, the CAPSA joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroen and Changan will begin local production of the Citroen DS5 in the second half of 2013 at the Shenzen facility, which will offer capacity of 200,000 vehicles per year at full operation.

The DPCA joint venture is aiming to expand its Chinese market share to 5 percent in 2015.