AUDI AG: North American growth region with significantly increased sales

Ingolstadt (ots) –

– Sales chief Schwarzenbauer: “16th record month in a row in the
United States”
– Around 125,200 cars delivered worldwide in April, up 14.4
percent
– Strong growth in Germany and France

AUDI AG sustained its high growth rate from the first quarter in
April, with around 125,200 cars delivered and a 14.4 percent
increase over the prior-year month. Sales figures rose over the
first four months by 11.7 percent to around 471,300 cars delivered.
In April, the brand with the four rings posted clear growth in all
regions. Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Russia contributed
in particular to the company’s 4.9 percent growth in Europe. North
America has also become a stable factor for Audi: From January to
April, the brand achieved a sales increase of around 15.2 percent
there.

“We continue to see great potential for Audi in North America; we
want to sell more than 200,000 cars in the United States alone by
2020”, said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management
for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG. “A new production plant in Mexico
safeguards our long-term growth worldwide – and underscores the
importance of the entire American region. We want to achieve
significant double-digit growth there this year as well.” And Audi is
moving in the right direction – over the first four months of the
year, the brand sold more cars in all countries within the American
region than in the same period last year, and increased sales there
by a cumulative 15.4 percent, which corresponds to around 56,400
units.

The driver for growth in this region is the United States, where
the brand continued on its road to success. “With 11,521 cars sold
and a 15 percent increase, we achieved our 16th record month in a row
in April”, said Schwarzenbauer. This has been driven by high demand
for Audi luxury-class models. They made up more than 30 percent of
the company’s sales in the United States in April. In the first four
months, sales figures for AUDI AG climbed in the United States to a
total of 40,991 cars, putting them 15.8 percent above those for the
same period last year.

Audi also exceeded its delivery results from the prior-year month
in Europe. Around 66,750 customers chose a model with the four-ring
logo in April (+ 4.9 percent). The engines for growth here were
important European markets such as Germany, France, the United
Kingdom and Russia. In the company’s home market of Germany, the new
Q3 and the A6 family in particular helped boost sales for Audi. For
example, an additional 1,800 customers selected an A6 model. Overall,
Audi registered 9.4 percent growth in April in Germany, to 24,301
units.

In France, the brand with the four rings developed against the
market trend and experienced strong sales growth, with an increase of
13.7 percent on the prior-year month. The brand was also able to sell
even more cars than in April 2011 in the United Kingdom (+ 5 percent)
and Russia (+ 16.5 percent). Russia in particular continues to gain
importance for Audi. Over the first four months, the company sold
10,461 cars in this market (+ 44.6 percent) – by the end of the year
Audi wants to deliver 30,000 cars here for the first time.

Significant growth was once again achieved in the past month in
China. The 34,221 cars delivered there (incl. Hong Kong) exceeded
those for the prior-year month by 44 percent. From January to April,
sales figures in China increased 41.4 percent over the previous year
and amounted to 124,284 units. The locally produced models
experienced especially strong sales. In the first four months of the
year, more than 33,000 Chinese customers chose the long-wheelbase
version of the A4 (+ 62 percent).

The Indian and South Korean markets also hold increasing
importance for the Asia-Pacific region. In India, Audi sales
increased in April by 49.9 percent; in South Korea the figures for
deliveries rose by 61.7 percent.

Market overview

Sales for In the month of April Cumulative
AUDI AG 2012 2011 Change 2012 2011 Change
from from
2011 2011

World 125,200 109,424 +14.4% 471,300 421,956 +11.7%
Europe 66,750 63,642 +4.9% 253,100 250,105 +1.2%
– Germany 24,301 22,204 +9.4% 82,277 78,487 +4.8%
– UK 9,325 8,885 +5.0% 45,102 43,754 +3.1%
– France 6,292 5,535 +13.7% 22,174 21,629 +2.5%
– Italy 4,865 5,408 -10.0% 17,783 22,106 -19.6%
– Spain 3,712 3,994 -7.1% 14,546 16,369 -11.1%
– Russia 3,287 2,821 +16.5% 10,461 7,234 +44.6%
USA 11,521 10,018 +15.0% 40,991 35,401 +15.8%
Brazil 368 408 -9.8% 1,409 1,166 +20.8%
Asia-Pacific 39,250 28,178 +39.3% 147,300 108,069 +36.3%
– China 34,221 23,766 +44.0% 124,284 87,888 +41.4%
(incl. Hong Kong)
– India 562 375 +49.9% 2,831 1,986 +42.5%

Note: Annual General Meeting of AUDI AG, May 10, 2012, Audi Forum
Ingolstadt

– End –

The Audi Group delivered 1,302,659 cars of the Audi brand to
customers in 2011. In 2011 the Company posted revenue of EUR 44.1
billion and an operating profit of EUR 5.3 billion. Audi produces
vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Gyor (Hungary),
Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium).The Audi Q7 is built in
Bratislava (Slovakia). In July 2010, CKD production of the Audi Q5
was added to the existing Audi A4 and A6 manufacturing operations
in Aurangabad (India). At the Brussels plant, production of the
Audi A1 has been running since May 2010, while production of the new
A1 Sportback began in 2012. The Audi Q3 has been built in Martorell
(Spain) since June 2011. The Company is active in more than 100
markets worldwide. AUDI AG’s wholly owned subsidiaries include AUDI
HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft., Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. in Sant’Agata
Bolognese (Italy), AUDI BRUSSELS S.A./N.V. in Brussels (Belgium) and
quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. Subject to a positive decision by the
responsible competition authorities, the Italian sports motorcycle
manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. will also belong to the Audi
Group. Audi currently employs around 64,000 people worldwide,
including around 48,000 in Germany. Between 2012 and 2016 the brand
with the four rings is planning to invest a total of E13 billion –
mainly in new products and the extension of production capacities –
in order to sustain the Company’s technological lead embodied in
its “Vorsprung durch Technik” slogan. Audi is currently expanding
its site in Gyor (Hungary) and will start production in Foshan
(China) in late 2013 and in Mexico in 2016.

Audi has long been fulfilling its social responsibility on many
levels – with the aim of making the future worth living for
generations to come. The basis for Audi’s lasting success is
therefore formed by environmental protection, the conservation of
resources, international competitiveness and a forward-looking
human resources policy. One example of AUDI AG’s commitment to
environmental issues is the Audi Environmental Foundation. Within the
context of “Vorsprung durch Technik,” which extends far beyond its
products, the Company is directing its activities toward a major
goal – comprehensive CO2-neutral mobility.

Pressekontakt:
Corporate Communications
Susanne Brieu
Press Spokeswoman for Marketing and Sales
Tel: +49 841 89-41573
E-mail: susanne.brieu@audi.de
www.audi-mediaservices.com

Quelle: http://www.presseportal.de/pm/6730/2249391/audi-ag-north-american-growth-region-with-significantly-increased-sales/api