Rupert Stadler, Audi AG chief, revealed plans Wednesday to overtake rivals Mercedes Benz and BMW in order to become the world's leading premium auto brand.

"By 2015 Audi will be number one," Stadler told Audi's annual general meeting in Neckarsulum, Germany.

Stadler said the car group expects sales to hit 1.5 million in 2015 with the company hoping its sales will breach the key 1.0 million mark by cars by the end of 2008.

Audi announced that its first-quarter sales surged some 9.4 percent during the first four months of year mainly due to Volkswagen AG luxury car; global sales jumped 9.2 percent to 84,736 in April, compared to the slight 0.5 rise in BMW brand sales in April the equivalent of 100,456 units. Mercedes Benz brand reported a 0.7 percent drop in sales to 90,600 in April.

Audi sales were helped by the solid growth in China’s market, which was up more than 20 per cent compared to last year. At the same time, Stadler said the carmaker was also focusing on India's rapidly developing auto market. Audi sales in India jumped 76 percent to 145 this year. Audi plans to begin a local assembly operation in India later this year.