While Chinese auto manufacturers reel from a slow market, their overseas counterparts are glittering with buoyant sales in China.

German auto giant Volkswagen sold 313,036 Audi cars in China in 2011, soaring 37 percent from the year before. The bright performance allowed China to shift to the company's number one spot in terms of markets.

"This result exceeded our sales forecast significantly," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, a board member for sales and marketing of Audi. He added that Audi continues to see strong growth potential in China.

In another move, Swedish auto guru Volvo Car Corp. said its China sales jumped 54 percent in 2011, while its sales in North America and Europe grew 23 percent and 13.1 percent, respectively.

U.S. General Motors and its joint ventures in China sold around 2.55 million vehicles in China last year, growing 8.3 percent year on year.