HEFEI - China's private carmaker Chery Automobile Co Thursday said its overseas sales in the first 11 months of the year hit a new record with a robust 79.7 percent growth.

The eastern Anhui province-based carmaker sold 149,462 cars overseas in the January-November period, said Jin Gebo, Chery's spokesman. The annual figure was the highest in the company's 15-year history.

Chery's global sales hit 55,616 units in November, meaning it remains the best-selling domestic brand. This included 13,906 units sold overseas.

The strong sales overseas helped Chery to meet its annual overseas sales target of 120,000 units in just nine months and to cushion the sluggish market in China, Jin said.

To expand overseas, Chery opened a plant in Venezuela in August this year and is expected to start operation at another plant currently under construction in Brazil, in September 2013.

It also has announced plans to build car assembly plants in Myanmar and other major African countries.