AUDI AG: July sees continued strong sales growth in Asia and Eastern Europe

Audi continues to show strong growth in the Asia/Pacific region with 12,037 automobiles sold in July, a 7.6 percent increase compared to the prior-year month (11,189). In China (including Hong Kong), 9,403 new automobiles were sold (up 7.1 percent). Russia is also showing considerable growth with 1,454 customers, a 7.5 percent increase over last year (1,352). Audi posted growth of 10.6 percent in Eastern Europe with 3,466 more automobiles sold than the year before. And some 83,200 cars were handed over to their new owners worldwide, 2.5 percent more than July 2007.

"Asia and Eastern Europe are growth drivers in our business and we are going to keep our foot on the gas. We are therefore launching an independent sales company in Taiwan, just as we have already done in Canada, Australia and Korea," says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales of AUDI AG.

Audi Taiwan Limited will commence operations in February 2009 and Audi is investing heavily in the sales and service network. Over the next few years, eleven new dealers will open in this growth market – three in the metropolis of Taipei alone.

Audi’s sales soared in the first seven months, particularly in the Asia/Pacific region, where the company sold 90,924 automobiles from January to July, an increase of 18.1 percent over the prior-year month (2007: 76,981). In China (including Hong Kong), the brand with the four rings continued to solidify and expand its leading market position for the same period by posting a 20.4 percent increase, with 69,912 vehicles sold. In Australia, Audi recorded a rise of 32 percent from January to July, with sales of 5,851 automobiles. An increase of 163 percent (595 automobiles) in India only confirmed the growth potential of this emerging market.

The Eastern European markets continued to show a positive trend over the first seven months, where Audi sales figures went up by 14.5 percent to 25,908 automobiles. In the largest market, Russia, Audi sold 10,114 cars during this same period (2007: 8,624), a rise of 17.3 percent.

Audi handed over 23,341 (2007: 22,908) cars to its customers in Germany, which represents growth of 1.9 percent. In the rest of Europe (excluding Germany), Audi sold 36,910 cars in July, a 3.3 percent increase over the prior-year month (2007:35,733).

- Antje Bauer-