Audi's Sales Still Weather Crisis Better Than Competitors

Volkswagen's Audi emerged as the clear winner among Germany's luxury carmakers in May, posting a far smaller decline in global vehicle sales than either BMW or Mercedes-Benz.

Audi posted a 6.1 percent drop in sales to 82,800 vehicles -- relatively mild given a sharp collapse in luxury car demand -- while Daimler's Mercedes-Benz brand saw sales fall 12 percent to 86,300 as record sales in China cushioned the blow for both.

BMW brand sales by comparison sank by 18 percent to 90,643 vehicles, although its head of sales attempted to put a positive spin on the hefty decline by noting the rate of contraction was at least subsiding compared with January, February and April.

"Sales decreased much more slowly in May than in recent months. Overall, I am cautiously optimistic that our global sales figures will continue to improve over the course of the year," Ian Robertson said in a statement on Monday.

So far, the BMW brand's best performance this year was a 17 percent year-on-year drop in the month of March.

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MrBratwurst - 6/8/2009 5:19:34 PM

-7 Boost

And when you sell Volkwagen Golfs badged as Audis A3 with same engines and equipment for 30% more. Clear profit.

And when the entire German motoring press has turned into a huge VW/Audi blatant and shameless marketer. This is how Germans do it. By propaganda.

Look: http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/antriebskonzepte-audi-a3-bmw-1er-und-vw-scirocco-im-vergleich-1012722.html

They are even trying to convince you that a front wheel drive Volkswagen drives better than a rear wheel drive BMW.

veyron1001 - 6/8/2009 5:36:51 PM

+2 Boost

It is worth it as you are not owning a GM vehicle.

JustaCar - 6/8/2009 5:49:57 PM

+7 Boost

Your uncontrolled need to bash Audi is becoming quite predictable.
Do you feel somehow threatened by positive news about Audi? Your responses seem to indicate that.
Remember, it's "justacar"

Speedoholic - 6/8/2009 6:31:12 PM

+5 Boost

Oh Shut up, you're talking about a company that owns Lamborghini and is owned by Volkswagen who's in a merger with PORSCHE.
You're just afraid it might take away sales from your precious BMW.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 6/8/2009 11:33:23 PM

+1 Boost

I dont think Jeremy Clarkson, Tiff Needell, Jason Plato or all the other UK and European Based Auto Journalists are under VW Payroll.

They all seem to agree on the Golf V 1 Series winner.

And by your logic GM / Ford and Chrysler Should be the most profitable Auto Manufacturers given how An Escalade is practically 86% Tahoe/Surburban/Denali

Navigator looks 91% Expedition

Lets not talk about Town Car/ Crown Vic/ Grand Marquis.
Edge/MKX

We'd be here all day.

GermanNut - 6/8/2009 5:36:51 PM

+5 Boost

Audi is simply winning the sales decline competition. Look at BMW's sales chief trying to spin an 18% decline for the month of May as something positive...LOL! BMW tanked 18% meanwhile Mercedes-Benz fell 12% and Audi's sales fell just 6% for the month.

Look at Mercedes-Benz just sitting there counting the days until they get passed by Audi in global annual sales.

Bmw8ter - 6/8/2009 8:34:51 PM

+1 Boost

The funniest thing is that Audi makes more profit per vehicle than BMW or Mercedes. I'm sure they're not too worried about sales figures.

EIII - 6/8/2009 6:03:43 PM

+6 Boost

Hey Bratwurst,,,15% same parts usually platform and Engine, doors, body suspension, gearbox, seats, Leather etc exclusive. What you have to do is realize that the Propeller Head company is sliding downhill and so filled with A holes that they don't even see the change coming.
By the time BMV see's the danger they will look like GM. Audi has sold cars without big arse incentives and the value's in turn hold better.
Audi will not incentivise the sale at the cost of devalueing the brand.
More for your $ is what Audi ='s BMW is reducing the use of aluminum and de equipping the packages. Audi is headed toward lighter materials i all of the cars ref 800lb lighter S5 coming in a few years.. not to mention the the A4 out sold the 3 car at home http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Audi_News/article_4577.shtml
Keep thinking and reading but please edjucate before touching the keys and incorrectly stating your issues. Good Day Sir

VISO - 6/9/2009 3:57:50 PM

+3 Boost

What Mr. Weiner and his ignorant cohorts fail to realize, and they keep sticking to their pathetic A3 theory (which by the way costs quite a bit if you've checked the pricing) is that Audi outsells BMW and MB in Europe with the A3, A4, A6, A8, Q5, Q7 all outselling similar BMW models. The 1-Series in Europe is nothing special by the way and BMW relys heavily on it to meet its sales numbers, yet it still gets knocked off by the A3 costing more than the 1-Series. So, the A3 hypothesis is actually quite a pathetic attempt to try to justify declining BMW global sales. Come up with a better argument mr. weiner.

inspirion7 - 6/8/2009 7:04:33 PM

+4 Boost

Slow and steady,slow and steady.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 6/9/2009 8:05:58 PM

+2 Boost

Did you read what VISO said
In Europe (AUDI / BMW & MERCERDES) Homeland the A3/A4/A6/A8/Q7 Outsell the BMWs and MBs
So if the europeans are choosing Audi over BMW and MB ( Audi's are more expensive) how can you be talking about china sales and quality ?

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 6/9/2009 8:06:32 PM

0 Boost

And i live in the Uk so i can vouch for what VISO said

GermanNut - 6/9/2009 8:18:47 PM

0 Boost

BMW can't even come close to matching Audi's significantly smaller sales declines. BMW's (and MB's to a lesser extent) sales and profits are crashing month by month.

Look at BMW's marketing chief trying to spin an obviously horrible month of May into something positive.

Tip for BMW's head of sales: Your sales have fallen off a cliff just like your profits. You clearly see Audi's huge momentum in your rearview mirror. Just look at the 2008 and YTD 2009 sales and profit numbers for a reminder.