Audi: Stable Worldwide Sales In November

INGOLSTADT, Germany – December 9, 2008: Audi delivered some 75,950 vehicles to customers worldwide in November. The premium brand’s sales figures were thus slightly higher than the same month last year (2007: 75,635; up 0.4 percent). During the first eleven months of 2008, Audi sold some 920,700 vehicles – 3 percent more than in the comparable period in 2007 (2007: 893,628).

“Audi is continuing to perform very well on the market thanks to its young and attractive model range. This is reflected in our growing market shares on major European markets”, said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG. “The unfavorable background conditions in all sales regions are however presenting a great challenge.”

New models such as the Audi A4 Avant, Audi A3, Audi A6, and the new Audi Q5 – launched in November – have led to sales growth in European export markets. The Ingolstadt-based premium brand has sold some 420,100 units here so far this year: 2.9 percent more than during the first eleven months of 2007 (2007: 408,235). In November, sales grew by 10.6 percent over one year earlier to approximately 32,000 cars. Especially the A4 Avant generated an increase in November sales figures in Italy, one of Audi’s most important European sales markets. Audi sold 5,754 vehicles here, which is 30.7 percent more than in November 2007 (2007: 4,401). From January through November, 56,587 units were sold – an increase of 3.8 percent compared with the same period last year (2007: 54,531). Sales figures in France also rose: by 11.5 percent in November (3,588 vehicles; 2007: 3,219) and by 4.7 percent during the first eleven months (47,199 vehicles; 2007: 45,100).

Thanks to sales figures on the same high level as last years, AUDI AG succeeded in consolidating its market position in Germany. With a market share of 9.5 percent in November and 8.0 percent during the first eleven months, Audi achieved its best competitive position in its history as a premium manufacturer. In November, the brand delivered 22,178 vehicles to German customers (up 0.4 percent; 2007: 22,094). From January through November, it was a total of 232,444 units (an increase of 0.1 percent; 2007: 232,277).

In China – Audi’s largest export market – and the USA, unfavorable market forces affected sales for the Ingolstadt-based premium manufacturer. In November, sales figures in the USA fell by 25.4 percent compared with November 2007 (6,788 vehicles; 2007: 9,104). For the first eleven months of 2008, the brand sold 80,049 units here: a year-on-year decrease of 5.8 percent (2007: 85,002). In China (including Hong Kong), November sales figures were down by 5.9 percent; Audi sold 8,173 automobiles here. Nevertheless, sales for the first eleven months of this year amount to 108,737 units – 17.5 percent higher than the prior-year figure.