MOTORING NEWS - Audi AG ended the third quarter with an increase of 2,6% in September sales compared to 2016. During the month, the company sold 178 350 units, but with mixed sales in the top markets.
Sales grew in the US (+9,6%) and in China (+7,2%), while figures in Germany were down 0,5% year-on-year.
Since January, the manufacturer delivered around 1 380 800 premium automobiles to customers, reducing the cumulative decline to 2,0% compared with 2016, which was the strongest sales year ever in Audi history.
"In September, our wide variety of models demonstrated our brand's charisma. Our sporty and progressive Audi A5 family achieved very high growth, while the Audi Q5 and our latest SUV, the Audi Q2, did well," says Bram Schot, board member for sales and marketing at AUDI AG.
"With the presentation of the new Audi A8 we are at the start of a unique model rollout. This prospect gives us a positive outlook for the future."
In North America, Audi achieved its highest September sales ever with around 23 600 deliveries.
Despite the exceptional climatic conditions, the brand continued to grow in the US.
Since January 2011, demand for Audi models has continuously set record figures there.
In the past month, an increase of 9,6% to 19 308 cars sold, set a new record. The sales figures of the Audi Q5 in particular had a positive effect: 4 596 cars represent a year-on-year increase of 16,1%.
Nearly one in four US customers on average opted for the mid-sized SUV since January.
Canada also saw high demand again in September. Canadian deliveries achieved double-digit growth since May.
With 3 277 automobiles they exceeded the 2016 figure by 19,6% last month.
In China, September built on the positive sales performance of the past few months. With
58 445 deliveries, Audi achieved its strongest sales month to date in 2017, with sales rising 7,2%.
A total of 418 670 customers took delivery of a new Audi since January, so sales since January are 4,9% below the 2016 figure.
In September, sales in Europe increased in Spain (+16,2% - 3 952 cars) and Italy (+13,1% - 6 055 cars).
A clear trend toward SUVs was apparent in both markets. In Spain, 1 711 customers bought a Q family model last month.
Demand was also particularly strong for the Audi Q5, with sales up 18,2% year-on-year.
One popular model among Italian Audi buyers was the Audi Q2, with 1 131 units sold.
Although September sales in Europe were down 1,1% year-on-year, the overall balance is positive: across all models, Audi delivered around 661 550 units in the period January through September, which means cumulative sales are up 0,7%.
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