Audi, a unit of Europe's largest auto group, Volkswagen AG, said it sold 82,750 cars last month, compared with 75,965 in November 2008.

Based in Ingolstadt, Audi said its overall sales for the first 11 months of the year declined 5.4 per cent.

BMW's sales for the January-November period fell 12 per cent.

"Since September, sales have been back on the growth track," Ian Robertson, BMW's board member responsible for sales and marketing, said in the company's report.

"In November we achieved another substantial increase in our global deliveries. We intend to continue this trend in December," Robertson said.

For November, BMW's Mini brand saw its sales increase nearly 14 per cent, while sales of the super-luxury Rolls Royce brand declined by 5.5 per cent. The BMW motorcycles division saw sales drop 4.7 per cent.

best-sellers

BMW sales rose most in Asia, where they jumped more than 33 per cent.

Europe posted an 11 per cent increase for the month with eastern Europe contributing strongly. Africa reported a sales increase of more than 10 per cent for the month.

BMW sales in the US declined 7.5 per cent to 18,272 vehicles sold in November, while other markets in the Americas improved. Brazil, for example, reported a 416 per cent increase in sales, which helped the overall Americas region report only a 1.3 per cent decline in November.

BMW said among the overall best-sellers were the Z4 sports car and the BMW 7 Series limousine.

Audi said its November gains came largely in the Asia-Pacific and Americas markets.

Sales in China, including Hong Kong, rose 102 per cent in November.

In the US, sales were only slightly higher for the month at 6,810 vehicles, but still better than the competitions' results, Audi said. Sales in Brazil and Canada, among other countries, also increased.

Audi November sales in Europe declined 4.4 per cent to 51,800 cars.

The company said some of the best sellers overall were the Audi A3 sportback and the Q5 SUV.