Audi Continues to Narrow the Gap With Mercedes and BMW

Audi AG announced today that global sales for the month of April fell 5.6%. While this drop is indicative of the turmoil in the financial as well as auto markets, it is also telling of Audi's ability to better manage the current crisis than its competitors.

Audi's April 2009 global sales fell 5.6% to 81,923 vehicles for the month and 291,951 vehicles for all of 2009, a drop of 15% on the year.

BMW, in contrast saw its global sales for April tank 25% to 84,218 while its total sales for the year have fallen by 22% to 317,722 cars.

Mercedes-Benz has also seen larger declines when compared to Audi. For the month of April, Mercedes-Benz saw its global sales fall 23% to 80,700 vehicles. This shows that Mercedes-Benz sold fewer cars than Audi for the month of April. For all of 2009, Mercedes-Benz sales have fallen 25% to 296,700 vehicles.

Audi was the 3rd best-selling luxury manufacturer in 2008 with Mercedes-Benz taking second place honors outselling Audi by approximately 100,000 vehicles.

Audi has now closed the gap with Mercedes to less than 4,800 vehicles for the entire year through the first 4 months of 2009.

It should be exciting to see if Audi can continue to close the gap and finish in second place - marking a changing of the guard.
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ThierryHenry14 - 5/8/2009 8:33:59 PM

+4 Boost

Wow!!!! Congrats to Audi. With an exciting (and expanded) line-up, Audi has so much potential, and with solid backings, it looks like the boys at Ingolstadt are doing something right!!!

GermanNut - 5/8/2009 8:49:52 PM

+4 Boost

Also of high importance: Audi is the only company to stay profitable through Q1 2009.

While Mercedes-Benz has its new E-class on the horizon and BMW has its 5-series GT and X1 coming out, Audi too has many extremely affordable models coming out such as the A1 which will be a MINI competitor in Europe, the Q3, which is the BMW X1 competitor and then there is the upscale A7 designed to take on the Benz CLS.

With economies of scale being enjoyed by Volkswagen ownership, small exposure to the ailing U.S. market, market leader status in Western Europe, Germany, and China, Audi is well on its way to being a force in the future.

chewy - 5/9/2009 6:43:22 PM

+5 Boost

so reporting sales figures is now considered propoganda?

JMB1013 - 5/9/2009 12:37:46 AM

+2 Boost

was Audi behind BMW and Mercedes to begin with?

MrBratwurst - 5/9/2009 10:15:06 AM

+3 Boost

We know this and we also know who you really are! Good camouflage nickname.

VISO - 5/9/2009 1:18:43 PM

0 Boost

Only Americans continued to be dooped by the BMW and MB propaganda. Good for you.

Freude - 5/15/2009 10:58:55 AM

-1 Boost

just that Americans do not like fake stuff, having a VW in a permium segment that's badged as Audi - not even premium to begin with. Why pay more for the same sh!t? At least BMW and Merc are pure original brands. I do not want to open the hood and see VW badges all over my engine parts, pipes, etc. I paid premium for premium. Besides, this Audi thing is just a fad. Can anyone actually say that an Audi drives better than a BMW? I don't think so... unless you think th VW Golf drives better than a BMW. It's all about the driving! style wise, please Audi is boring me to death. The Q7 and Q5 are ugly as hell - fat flabby and just a huge blob. Yet again, why would anyone buy a Q5 if it is actually the same car as the VW "whatever 4X4"? Just shows that they are stupid. and for the record, Americans have good education levels so you'll see this trend where the best and originality will be most popular, which is th case as BMW leads by more than 10 folds over Audi in terms of sales numbers. So the percentages say very little about units

Type707 - 5/11/2009 2:24:55 PM

+4 Boost

I think that AUDI will survive regardless of the recession.

Freude - 5/15/2009 11:04:18 AM

+1 Boost

I agree, conidering thir lower cost of production per Audi car using parts from VW, Seat, Skoda. They have a big margin to play around with. Also, they have the financial resources of VW, their parent.

Steve - 5/14/2009 5:21:58 PM

+1 Boost

Go Audi! Congratulations. BTW, I like your style. An A5 cab is my likely next car, and that coming from a guy who owns 2 BMWs today.

c36amg - 5/15/2009 7:21:09 AM

+1 Boost

in any case, they remain ugly.... atleast the A6...

PhilGT - 5/19/2009 3:08:02 AM

+2 Boost

@ Freude:

Don't include me in your generalization of Americans. For one, you have your facts incorrect. An Audi Q5 is on the MLB platform with the new A4, A5, and upcoming A7. Audi not only has different engine layouts (longitudinal) than VW but it uses completely different chassis. There is no similarity between the Q5 and Tiguran - none. Also, I now own an Audi (after trading in my 335) and I can tell you it doesn't have the markings all over the car that you talk about. Which Audi drives better than a BMW? Ever heard of the R8? Besides, an Audi has a better interior, better exterior design than my 3 series ever had and while the steering feel may not be as direct/heavy, it certainly is accurate. Its funny how BMW drivers will always say my car drives better than any car out there but when it comes down to it, they commute using 10% of the cars ability on 35mph streets and 65mph freeways just like everyone else. "Americans have good education levels" is a statement that I find fascinating :) Are you saying that other areas of the world such as Europe and Asia do not have educated people? Is that really your reasoning for the fact that Audi sells more cars in both of those areas than BMW and Mercedes? Do you really think people only buy a car because of only steering feel? There are many more attributes that go into a car. While you are entitled to your opinion about Audi's designs, I think they are making some of the most beautiful designs on the road today. That's only one of the reasons why I traded my 335 in for the S5 that I now own.

DieselRules - 5/21/2009 1:14:55 AM

+1 Boost

Phil, you missed the biggest point that Freude totally missed.
The markets where Audi sells better are markets where people are more knowledgeable about cars. Sure, Americans are well educated on average, but most of them know dick about cars. Europe and Asia are car-crazy!