Audi U.S. Sales in March Set a Record, Giving the Brand the Best First Quarter in its History

HERNDON, Va., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Audi today reported its March U.S. sales set a record for the month, rising 33.5% from a year earlier. The results also helped Audi achieve the best first-quarter sales since it began marketing cars in the U.S., and sent 2010 year-to-date sales up 34.8%.

In the most recent month, Audi U.S. sales reached 8,589 luxury cars and SUVs, compared to 6,433 in March 2009. That topped the previous March sales record set in 2007. First quarter sales in 2010 topped the previous record set in the first quarter of 2007. Strong demand across the Audi model lineup led to the record U.S. March results.

"It's one thing to improve on sales from a year earlier when the U.S. economy was in a malaise," said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. "But it says something more profound about the Audi momentum story when the brand notches a record sales month in 2010 and a record sales quarter."

Audi A5 sets single-month sales record

Strong demand for the luxury performance Audi A5/S5 coupes continued in March with sales rising 59.8% over March 2009 and an increase of 41.8% from the first three months of 2009.

Sales of the Audi A5 Cabriolet in March reached their highest monthly level. The A5 Cabriolet arrived in the U.S. market last August. Combined A5/S5 coupe and cabriolet sales increased 154.9% in March 2009 from a year earlier.

Big increase for Audi A3, lead by the '2010 Green Car of the Year'

Demand for the Audi A3 luxury compact car jumped 100% from a year earlier. Audi A3 sales increased 109.2% through the first three months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.

Those gains were due to strong sales of the A3 TDI model, which is the reigning 2010 Green Car of the Year. The clean diesel Audi A3 TDI continued to top forecasts by comprising 49.5% of the model's sales mix.

Audi Q5, Audi Q7 March sales see big gains

The Audi Q5 crossover has consistently ranked among the most highly sought Audi vehicles since its debut in early 2009. Sales of the versatile Q5 increased 55.5% in March from a year earlier and 60.5% when compared to February 2010 sales.

The Audi Q7 SUV also gained in March with sales that finished 19.4% higher than a year earlier. The Q7 TDI clean diesel model remains a hit with consumers, making up 40.9% of the sales mix for the most recent month.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales fell 10.4% in February from a year earlier largely due to constricted inventories.

ABOUT AUDI

Audi of America, Inc. and its 270 U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2009 Audi outsold all other luxury brands in Europe, while in the U.S. market Audi posted the largest market share gain of any luxury automotive brand. Over the next few years, AUDI AG expects to spend nearly $2 billion annually on new products and technology. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

    
    
    
    AUDI US SNAPSHOT                          ----- YEAR TO DATE -----
    
    Model Line       Mar-10  Mar-09  Yr/Yr %  Mar-10   Mar-09   Yr/Yr %
    ----------       Actual  Actual  Change     YTD      YTD    Change
                     ------  ------  ------   Actual   Actual   ------
                                              ------   ------
    A3                   548     274  100.0 %   1,450      693   109.2 %
    A4                 3,058   3,255   -6.1 %   8,481    7,515    12.9 %
    A5                 1,675     657  154.9 %   3,755    1,754   114.1 %
    A6                   799     403   98.3 %   1,813    1,624    11.6 %
    A8                    63     102  -38.2 %     149      272   -45.2 %
    Audi Q5            1,701   1,094   55.5 %   3,811    1,752   117.5 %
    Audi Q7              541     453   19.4 %   1,380    1,559   -11.5 %
    R8                    52      44   18.2 %     129      198   -34.8 %
    TT                   152     151    0.7 %     347      441   -21.3 %
    Total Audi Sales   8,589   6,433   33.5 %  21,315   15,808    34.8 %
    

NOTES:

- 2010 A4 numbers include Audi A4 sedan, Avant, and S4 models. 2009 A4 numbers include A4 cabriolet, which has been discontinued.

- 2010 A5 numbers include Audi A5 cabriolet and coupe' and S5 cabriolet and coupe' models. 2009 A5 numbers do not include the cabriolet models.

- A6 includes Audi A6 sedan, S6 sedan and A6 Avant models.

- A8 includes Audi A8 sedan, A8L sedan, and S8 sedan models.

- TT includes Audi TT coupe' and TT roadster models.

SOURCE Audi