Audi Australia Claims it's Most Successful Sales Quarter in History

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – April 6, 2009: Audi Australia has achieved its most successful sales quarter in the company’s history, maintaining its position as the fastest growing premium brand in the country.

March sales of 846 vehicles, up from 809 in 2008, have helped to propel Audi to its most successful quarter, following on from extremely strong months in January and February. This takes the total number of vehicles sold year-to-date to 2,733, a growth of 5.2%, compared with 2,599 sold in the first quarter of 2008. This upward trend comes as the total market declined 19.2% for the same period.

The strong March results are reflective of the launch of the all-new Audi Q5, which has proven to be an instant sales success. With an impressive 101 sales in its first month, the Audi Q5 is the company’s most successful new product launch to-date. Audi’s latest SUV offers discerning customers in the compact SUV segment a genuine value-for-money alternative, while the seven seat Q7 performance SUV continues to attract buyers looking for a larger premium SUV.

Audi started the year with an historic 1,081 cars sold in January – its highest sales month on record, representing growth of 5.5%. The positive growth against the market trend continued in February with 806 vehicles sold posting a 5.4% increase.

Audi Australia’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, says the continued sales success reflects the clear strategic direction of the brand.

“To have achieved our strongest sales quarter on record, given the tough climate in which we currently operate, makes us justifiably proud,” Mr Hofmann said.

“We’ve maintained positive sales growth each month this year, following our all-time record for 2008. We’ve also held steady as the number one growth market for Audi worldwide.

“It proves that as a brand and a network, Audi in Australia is on the right path. Our growth is profitable and our investment with dealers in new facilities will continue.”

Also contributing to Audi’s success for the first quarter of the year was the arrival of the revised A6 range, including the new RS 6 Sedan and the 3.0 TDI A6 allroad quattro.

The Audi product portfolio will continue to grow in 2009. Amongst the arrival of new models, such as the S4 Sedan, A5 and S5 Cabriolets, and the R8 5.2 FSI quattro, will be additions to the ever-expanding Audi diesel range. The first diesel engine in the TT Coupe will arrive mid-year, closely followed by the Q5 2.0 TDI, the A6 2.0 TDI and the A6 2.7 TDI.