Roughly 312,600 Deliveries Add Up To Audi's Best First Quarter

ZETLAND, AUSTRALIA – April 11, 2011: Audi AG has ended the best first quarter in its history with strong results for March, with around 125,700 deliveries amounting to an increase of 13.9 percent. The company sold around 312,600 cars in the first three months,18.4 percent more than during the same period last year. Meanwhile, growth rates in all regions were in a clear double-digit range. The new A6 Sedan is also expected to contribute to growth in the coming months. On April 1, roll-out of the new model started at dealerships, beginning in Germany and other European markets.

‘‘The A6 is very successful in its segment. With the new generation we see even greater potential -- especially in China and the United States, but in Germany as well,’’ said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales at Audi AG. ‘‘Over the life-cycle of the new A6 Sedan we want to exceed the total sales volume of its predecessor by around 25 percent.’’

Sales figures for the new Audi A1 contributed to growth in the first quarter: in March alone, 13,880 customers chose the smallest model available from Audi. Since January, Audi AG has sold nearly 31,000 units of the A1, which currently is available primarily in Europe. In all, the company sold around 186,500 cars in the European markets during the first three months of the year. This amounts to an increase of 14.8 percent compared to the same period 2010. During the past month Audi delivered some 79,900 cars within Europe, a rise of 11.4 percent. The growth was fuelled by a strong first quarter in the company’s home market in Germany: With 56,283 cars, Audi sold 13.7 percent more than in the first quarter of last year. And in the United Kingdom, where Audi traditionally is strongly represented, sales figures continued to climb over the first three months to 34,869 units, an increase of 13.7 percent.

First-quarter sales figures in the United States were up 19.1 percent with 25,383 cars; in March alone, 9,818 US-Americans bought a new Audi (up 14.3 percent from last year).

In China, Audi sold 64,122 cars between January and March, 24.6 percent more than during the same period 2010. In March, 23,000 Chinese customers chose a new carfrom Audi, a rise of 17.7 percent compared to March 2010. Audi recorded a significant 21.4 percent increase in the other Asia-Pacific markets as well during the first quarter and delivered some 15,800 cars in this region. Around 5,900 units were sold here in March alone, an increase of 21.3 percent.