Audi Middle East commences business activities

Audi Middle East has now commenced its business activities and will soon be moving into an office building at Dubai Airport. "We have ambitious growth plans for the region and want to sell around 10,000 vehicles medium term," says Thierry Seys, Managing Director of Audi Middle East.

In the period January to May 2005, Audi sold 1,400 vehicles in the Middle East region, which includes the countries Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and the Lebanon. This is equivalent to an 80 percent increase in sales compared with the previous year. Audi's sales strategy for the region continues to encompass considerable investments in branding and marketing in the period up to 2009.

"With these measures we are signalling to our customers and our importers our long-term and direct commitment to the region. We are convinced that the Near and Middle East region still has considerable market potential. Our goal is to strengthen our position in the premium segment," explained Thierry Seys.

Audi also has a treat in store for SUV fans in the region when its launches its Q7, a new kind of sporty crossover vehicle, at the start of 2006. The region of the Near and Middle East is predestined for the sale of luxury vehicles. The SUV segment in particular is growing at a very brisk rate: around 25 percent of all vehicles sold there today in the premium segment are SUVs.