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From January through September, Audi sold some 762,280 units - an increase of 2.9% (2007: 741,106).
In addition, the brand achieved double-digit growth rates not only in new Asia/Pacific markets, but also in Europe.
The principal drivers of growth were the new Audi A4 and the A5 sports coupé.
"With the high growth rates in September we enter our strongest quarter of this year. Our goal for 2008 is to sell one million Audi vehicles - and we have rounded the corner at high speed for the home stretch."said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Board Member for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG.
In September, the premium manufacturer's sales figures in Europe went up by 13.2% to 68,125 new vehicles (2007: 60,159); from January through September, Audi sold 539,934 units in Europe (up 1.1%; 2007: 534,126).
"Our sales record on Europe's tight markets demonstrates just how strong Audi's product portfolio is," emphasized Schwarzenbauer, before adding:
"We are growing against the trend: as a progressive brand with appealing models such as the Audi A4 and the A5. Audi is proving that high quality sells even in tough times."
The growth achieved by the Ingolstadt-based premium brand was particularly impressive in its home market, Germany.
The number of vehicles sold in September climbed 20.8% to 22,182 units (2007: 18,358). During the first nine months of 2008, Audi sold 186,464 vehicles in Germany, thus keeping sales on the high level of last year (2007: 186,441).
Audi also increased sales in other key European markets. In spite of challenging market conditions in Italy, Audi sales rose by 18.6% to 6,205 units.
In total, Audi sold 45,324 vehicles here during the first nine months of this year (up 0.4%; 2007: 45,122). In Great Britain, 16,457 new Audi models were purchased (up 1.0%; 2007: 16,293). From January through September 2008, Audi sold 84.916 units - an increase of 2.5% (2007: 82,862).
The brand also achieved high rates of growth in Belgium, home to one of its production sites: Sales of 2,002 vehicles constituted growth of 55.2% (2007: 1,290). For the first nine months of 2008, Audi sales in Belgium rose by 3.5% to 24,525 units.
Audi also registered double-digit growth in the Middle East. September sales for the GCC and Levant registered with a plus of 34.6% over last year.
Cumulative sales for 2008 were up by 19% with a total sales number of 5504 vehicles. Best selling model of 2008 so far was the Audi A6 with an increase of 55% over last year.
In terms of actual numbers the Audi's seven-seater premium SUV, the Q7, remains in the lead with a total number of 1649 units sold in 2008 so far.
The brand sold 14,842 premium vehicles Asia/Pacific in September, up 20.9% on the same month last year (2007: 12,278).
From January through September, sales grew by 17.3% to 118,178 units (2007: 100,761).
In China (including Hong Kong) - Audi's second domestic market - 11,169 customers bought a new Audi, resulting in a 24.0% increase over September 2007.
During the first nine months, 90,934 customers accounted for sales growth of 19.4%.
The most successful Audi model by some distance - not only in September but all year, as well - has been the Audi A4.
In spring of this year, AUDI AG had introduced the next generation of this high-volume model line.
The market launch of the A4 sedan in late 2007 was followed by that of the A4 Avant in April 2008. 36,510 units of these two models were sold in September - a remarkable 46.1% leap compared with the same month last year (2007: 24,993).
Audi A4 sales totaling 265,615 during the first nine months of 2008 constituted a growth of 14.7% (2007: 231,479).
The Audi A5 sports coupé, on the market since June 2007, convinced 5,857 buyers in September (2007: 2,781).
From January through September, Audi sold 41,326 units of the A5 worldwide.
Posted by Ehab Al-Abbadi
