Chinese carmaker Chery sold 44,568 vehicles in March to become the first domestic brand to top China's monthly vehicle sales since 1987.

It was also the first month in which the Anhui-based company, which develops and produces cars with homegrown brands, sold more than 40,000 cars.

Second was Sino-U.S. joint venture Shanghai GM, which recorded monthly sales of 40,071 vehicles.

Two Sino-German joint ventures -- Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW Volkswagen -- followed, with sales of 38,627 and 37,016 respectively.

The four best sellers held 33 percent of China's car market in March.

In a scramble for market share with Chery, FAW Volkswagen and Shanghai GM slashed prices around the Spring Festival holidays, said analysts.

Chery sold 37,207 vehicles in January, second only to the 40,570 sold by Shanghai GM, when the indigenous carmaker achieved the second highest monthly car sales in China for the first time.

The company became China's seventh largest automaker and fourth largest producer of sedans in 2006, with sales of 305,200 vehicles, including 272,400 sedan cars.

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