Chinese automaker Chery overtook two Sino-German joint ventures to secure second spot in the total car sales in China last month, the China Securities Journal reported on Wednesday.

Chery sold 37,207 vehicles in January, second only to the 40,570 units sold by Shanghai General Motors.

The two Sino-German joint ventures - Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW Volkswagen - recorded sales of 35,128 vehicles and 32,084 vehicles respectively.

This is the first time the Anhui-based company, which develops and produces cars with homegrown brands, has achieved the second highest monthly car sales in China.

The report attributed Chery's increase in sales to its most popular models. The minicar QQ recorded sales of 13,713 units in January, up 5.9 percent over the same period last year.

The Cowin maintained second place in economy car sales, with sales rising 28.6 percent to 9,804, second only to the Volkswagen Jetta.

Sales of the sport-utility vehicle Tiggo NCV soared 388.8 percent to 3,901 units, while the Eastar, sales of which rose 152.9 percent to 2,575 units, outsold its rival, the Chevrolet Epica manufactured by Shanghai GM.

Chery was China's seventh largest automaker and fourth largest producer of sedans last year, with sales of 302,500 vehicles, including 272,400 sedan cars.

The company plans to double its exports this year, encouraged by last year's exports of 50,000 vehicles.