AUDI AG continues to grow: despite the model changeover for the A1* and Q3* in Europe and a shortened sales month in China, the company exceeded prior-year sales in February. Around 122,550 customers opted for the four rings last month, up 4.2 percent. Strong growth was achieved with the now globally available A3 family* (+47.4%) and the latest generation of the A6* (+10.8%). Since the start of the year, worldwide deliveries across all models are up 7.4 percent to around 260,250.
“We are continuing our global growth and have again increased sales in all regions of the world in February,” says Luca de Meo, Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG. “The updated A6, which is also due to be launched in the United States over the next few weeks, performs very well and will provide us with added momentum.”
Worldwide, sales of the brand’s most successful full-size model rose by 10.8 percent to around 20,650 cars in February. In Europe, A6 sales climbed by 11.8 percent – one in three A6 customers in the region opts for the particularly efficient ultra version. The A3 family also saw demand increase further, especially in the overseas markets, with deliveries up by 47.4 percent to around 28,850 units.
The premium compact model was launched in North America in spring 2014. Together with the Q3, the A3 contributed decisively to February’s sales results in the United States: up 5.3 percent to 11,455 customers. As such, Audi of America is reporting its 50th record-breaking month in a row, continuing the longest success streak in the premium market in the United States. U.S. dealers are also preparing for the new generations of the A6 and A7*, which are due to hit their showrooms in the spring. The United States is the largest sales market for the A7.
In Europe, February was dominated for Audi by the model switchover for the A1 and Q3. The latest generations of both models gradually replaced their predecessors in European dealerships last month. Nonetheless, Audi also increased year-on-year sales in February, thanks to growth of 4.2 percent to around 60,250 automobiles. Cumulative sales of the four rings in the region rose 4.4 percent, equivalent to total sales of about 116,550 units. Germany once again achieved high double-digit growth with an increase of 16.9 percent to 25,502 customers in February, fueled by the brand’s full-size models: combined sales of the Audi A6, A7, Q7* and A8* soared by 23.2 percent. In France by contrast, February 2015 ended for Audi below the same month last year (-5.9% to 4,808 cars), whereas the 2014 level was reached again in Italy (+0.1% to 4,206 cars) and outnumbered in Spain (+4.1% to 4,320 cars). The continuing difficult market situation in Russia was reflected in declining sales for Audi as well, down 28.0 percent to 2,092 cars in February. By contrast, sales in Sweden (+10.3% to 1,322 cars) and Turkey (+22.4% to 1,353 cars) increased substantially. The A6 family achieved above-average success in both countries.
In China, the long-wheelbase version of the A6 is the best-selling premium car in the market, with sales increasing by 18.9 percent to 10,168 units in February. This sales month was shortened owing to the Chinese New Year celebrations. Audi concluded it with sales gains of 4.2 percent and a total of 33,712 cars handed over to customers. In the first two months, Audi delivered 84,960 premium cars in China, 10.5 percent more than one year ago.
Market overview
Note:
The Annual Press Conference of AUDI AG will take place on March 10 at 10:00 a.m. (CET) at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt. A livestream is available at http://www.audimedia.tv.
Fuel consumption of the models named above:
Audi A1:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.3 – 3.4;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 168 – 89
Audi A3:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.3 – 1.5;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 194 – 35
Audi A6:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.6 – 4.2;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 224 – 109
Audi A7:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.5 – 4.7;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 221 – 122
Audi A8:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 11.3 – 5.9;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 264 – 144
Audi Q3:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.4 – 4.4;’
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 198 – 114
Audi Q7:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.3 – 5.7;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 193 – 149