Audi : starts fourth quarter with sales growth

'After our good start to the fourth quarter, we intend to sustain this trend over the next few months despite continuing challenging conditions,' says Bram Schot, Board Member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG. 'Our model initiative is laying the foundation for our future success. Following the Audi A8, the new Audi A7 has lifted sportiness and aesthetic design to a new level in the luxury class. Even before its market introduction, this unique product concept has caused a sensation and has been well received by our customers.'

In mid-October, Audi unveiled its new four-door full-size coupé at its headquarters in Ingolstadt. The new Audi A7 (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.2 - 6.8 (32.7 - 34.6 US mpg), combined CO emissions in g/km: 163 - 154 (262.3 - 247.8 g/mi)*) with its dynamic and progressive design language is primarily aimed at trend-conscious, design- and technology-oriented customers. In March 2018, the model will go on sale at the first dealers in Europe.

On the home continent of the Four Rings, the Audi Q2 once again remained a firm favorite last month. Around 6,600 European customers picked up their keys for the city SUV in October. Across all models, Spain and Italy in particular created a great deal of momentum: On the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands, 4,393 customers boosted October sales by 10.5 percent year-on-year. Deliveries in Italy increased by 23.4 percent to 5,993 cars

sold. By contrast, the market development in the UK negatively impacted European business last month, with sales down 5.5 percent on the 2016 figure. Being down 0.6 percent over the course of the year, UK sales are, however, coming in almost on a par with the prior-year level and well above the declining overall market. 5,374 customers bought an Audi in France, a year-on-year fall of 8.5 percent. In Europe as a whole, the company delivered around 68,450 units in October (-1.6%). This is equivalent to a cumulative increase of 0.5 percent compared with 2016 when Audi set a new record-breaking sales figure in the European market.

In China, 53,828 automobiles sold set the best October sales month in Audi history. In addition, the Chinese market achieved its highest growth to date this year with sales up 14.5 percent. The Audi dealers in China saw high demand particularly for the long-wheelbase version of the Audi A4. Since January the Ingolstadt-based automaker sold 472,498 automobiles in China, with the cumulative decline in sales reduced to 3.0 percent. In mid-November, Audi will be celebrating the China premiere of the Audi S4 at the Guangzhou International Motor Show (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.5 - 7.3 (31.4 - 32.2 US mpg); combined CO emissions in g/km: 170 - 166 (273.6 - 267.2 g/mi)*). From spring 2018, the dynamic S model will augment the portfolio of the Four Rings in the Middle Kingdom.

North America once again proved an important growth engine in the past month, with Audi setting a new record-breaking figure of around 23,800 automobiles sold in the region. In the United States the company set its 82nd record-breaking month in a row (+9.6% to 19,425 cars). Canada once more achieved double-digit growth (+11.3 to 3,063 cars). The SUV trend maintained its momentum in both countries. Since the start of the year, half of U.S. customers opted for a Q family model. One in four vehicles delivered in the neighboring country was an Audi Q5 in the period January through October.

*) Figures depend on the tires/wheels used and on the transmission version