British iconic car maker Jaguar expects China to be its third-biggest market in the next few years after its sales accelerated last year. [CFP]

British iconic car maker Jaguar expects China to be its third-biggest market in the next few years after its sales accelerated last year.

Sales of the auto maker rose 34 percent to 1,800 vehicles in China last year, said Christopher Brown, managing director of Jaguar China.

The robust sales propelled China as its fourth-largest market after Germany, where more than 3,000 Jaguar cars were sold in 2009. The car maker's top two markets are the United Kingdom and the United States.

It recently launched the new XJ sedan which has attracted about 100 orders. Brown said the XJ is expected to boost sales in China by another 30 percent this year.

Brown said the growth in China's economy has created a burgeoning middle-class consumers which has, in turn, triggered demand for luxury goods, including cars.

"Given the growth of the Chinese market and appreciation of our brand, China will be the biggest market for Jaguar in the future," he said.

He is confident there is still room for Jaguar, which drove into China only in 2004, to expand its sales and development in China despite keen competition with other luxury car makers.

"The market's been good for all luxury car makers. Jaguar is an individual choice not a mass market brand," Brown said.