BMW has expanded its joint venture cooperation with the Chinese auto maker Brilliance for another 10 years until 2028, the German company confirmed on Monday.

BMW prolonged the contract well ahead of time, with the current deal lasting until 2018.

BMW and Brilliance's joint venture, known as BBA, is a long-standing relationship that has seen the auto giants produce models including BMW's 3-series and 5-series vehicles as well as the small X1 SUV.

The partners had recently talked about a long-term strategic alliance, but gave no details about the new contract on Monday.

Success story to continue

BMW sells about a fifth of the automobiles it produces in a year in China, the world's biggest car market, where it has been able to make up for a slump in sales in European and other markets.

Brilliance and BMW have been producing engines in China since 2012, with a new production facility to start operating there in 2016.

In total numbers, Germany's Volkswagen subsidiary Audi has been the most successful premium carmaker in the People's Republic. Last year alone, it moved about half a million units in the Asian country. BMW ranked second with 400,000 cars sold in China in 2013.

hg/cjc (Reuters, dpa)