Audi continues to grow: With around 159,950 deliveries and sales up 6.4 percent, the company reported its 57th record-breaking month in a row and, at the same time, the best September ever for the four rings. Sales growth was particularly strong in North America, up 17.6 percent. This means that deliveries worldwide increased by 10.0 percent in the first three quarters to around 1,298,650 cars.
“With just under 1.3 million deliveries in nine months, we have set a new best figure. In particular the buoyant North American markets constitute a key element in this growth,” says Luca de Meo, Member of the Board of Management for Sales at AUDI AG. “We aim to hand over more than 200,000 Audi automobiles to customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico in a full year for the first time.”
The successful Audi SUV models are important drivers behind the performance in the United States (+14.2%), Canada (+42.3%) and Mexico (+24.9%). A Q model accounted for more than a third of Audi sales in these countries in September. In particular, the Audi Q3, which went on sale in the United States in September, and the Audi Q5*, the brand’s top-selling model in the United States and Canada, provided an additional boost in North America. Worldwide the Audi Q3, Q5 and Q7* also gained further momentum in September, up 19.3 percent to around 45,900 units.
Among the large sales markets in Europe, Spain spearheaded the dynamic growth in September, with sales up 9.4 percent to 2,476 units. In Germany, deliveries climbed (+2.2%) to 21,703 cars in September, primarily thanks to the strong demand in the full-size segment (+20.6%). Sales of the Audi A6*, the top-selling model in its class in Germany, rose year-on-year by more than 700 units. The most efficient models in the A6 family contributed in particular to this growth: An “ultra” accounted for more than one in three A6 models delivered. Among business customers half of A6 orders relate to the ultra model. The new-generation A6 has been available to order since September, with the model arriving at dealerships in November.
Among the mid-sized growth markets, Turkey (+72.7%) and Brazil (+60.0%) proved very successful in September. With 11,439 deliveries since the start of the year, Audi has managed to almost triple its sales in the past five years in Turkey.
In the Asia-Pacific region too, Audi increased its total sales in all volume markets. Japan (+11.7%), South Korea (+35.0%) and Australia (+30.7%) reported double-digit sales growth in September. In China, 51,614 customers (+13.4%) took delivery of their new Audi – also turning September into a record-breaking month in the Middle Kingdom.
The Audi A3 Sedan* was launched in the initial markets a year ago. Since January around 61,450 customers have taken delivery of the new model. As such, more than one out of four A3 buyers worldwide opted for the sedan variant. In China and the United States, the model’s two most important markets, the sedan has been on sale since the spring. Local production of the model also got underway in Foshan, China, in September.
*Fuel consumption of the models named above:
Audi A3 Sedan:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.0 – 3.3;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 162 – 88
Audi Q3:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.8 – 5.2;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 206 – 137
Audi Q5:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.5 – 4.9;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 199 – 129
Audi A6:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.8 – 4.4;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 229 – 114
Audi Q7:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 10.7 – 7.2;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 249 – 189