Audi Solidifies Lead Over Infiniti Up 11.1% In August

Audi of America today reported record August U.S. sales of 10,201 vehicles, topping the previous record of 9,182 vehicles sold in August 2010. August 2011 marked the eighth consecutive month of record-setting sales for the brand in the U.S. market, as well as the fourth-best month ever in company history.

Audi sales in the U.S. year to date grew 15% to 75,256. The luxury car brand has recorded best-ever months in 12 out of the past 13 months.

The strong August 2011 results were buoyed by consumer response to the all-new 2012 Audi A6, as well as the stylish and technologically advanced 2012 Audi A7. Sales of the Audi A6 climbed 36.4% to 989 vehicles compared to August 2010 A6 sales. Demand for the Audi A7, introduced this spring, remained strong with 703 vehicles sold in the month. The all-new A6 and A7 feature Audi’s industry-leading navigation and safety technology, including MMI® Navigation plus with Google Earth, Audi connect™ with wireless internet access and Night Vision Assistant with thermal imaging.

The Audi A6, A7, A8 and Q7 – the brand’s entries in the top luxury vehicle segments – made up 28% of overall Audi sales in August.

Audi SUV models constituted a healthy 30% of overall Audi sales in August. Sales of the popular Audi Q7 full-size luxury sport-utility vehicle increased 28.6% YOY to 720 vehicles sold, when compared to August 2010.

The Audi Q7 TDI clean diesel model accounted for 45.5% of the sales mix in the lineup. Demand remained strong for the Audi A3, with 764 vehicles sold in August 2011. As consumers continued to show preferences for efficiency, the Audi A3 TDI clean diesel model accounted for 69% of the total A3 sales mix for the month.

The launch of the Audi TT RS sports car helped propel total Audi TT sales to an increase of 40% from a year earlier with 231 vehicles sold in August, while TT year-to-date sales increased 18.5% to 1,452 vehicles sold.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned sales of 3,169 vehicles mark the best August on record and the sixth-consecutive record month. Year to date sales of 25,517, an increase of 36.1% from 2010, put Audi on track to deliver the best CPO year on record.

For the record-setting month of August 2011, Audi recorded year-over-year sales increases exceeding 25% with five of its models: the Audi A3, the Audi A6, the Audi A8, the Audi Q7, and the Audi TT. In addition, the Audi Southern Region has experienced strong sales gains, with year-to-date sales jumping 16% to 15,635 vehicles sold.

“Closing in on a record-setting third quarter, sales continue to reinforce the notion that consumers are rewarding Audi for its industry-leading technology, differentiated styling and efficient performance,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America.”I’m optimistic that 2011 will be another banner year for Audi in the U.S. market.”

Audi sales highlights – August 2011
• New company record set in August with 10,201 vehicles sold, topping the previous record of 9,182 vehicles sold in August 2010.
• Audi sales in the U.S. grew 15% to 75,256 luxury vehicles sold from January 2011 through August 2011
• Five models within Audi lineup post YOY gains exceeding 25%.

Audi A6, A7 and A8 August sales and news notes
• Strong initial sales for the all-new 2012 A6 with 989 vehicles sold.
• 2012 Audi A7 sustains momentum with 703 vehicles sold.
• Audi A8 sales increase 392.6% YOY to 468 vehicles sold; YTD A8 sales up 563.4% to 3,768 vehicles sold.

Audi A3 and Audi Q7 August sales and news notes
• Audi A3 posted strong sales gain with an increase of 35.5% YOY to 764 vehicles sold in August.
• Audi Q7 sales in August up 28.6% YOY and up 38.3% YTD, compared to 2010.
• TDI clean diesel technology represented 69% of total A3 sales for August and 45.5% of total Q7 sales for August.

Audi TT August sales and news notes
• Audi TT sales increased 40% from the same period last year to 231 vehicles sold in August 2011; YTD sales experience 18.5% increase with 1,452 vehicles sold in 2011 through August.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned sales and news notes
• Best August CPO sales for Audi of all-time, set sixth consecutive monthly record with 3,169 vehicles sold.
• Audi CPO sales up 27.8% versus 2010.
• YTD sales up 36.1% with 25,517 vehicles sold.



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JustaCar - 9/2/2011 11:49:49 AM

-4 Boost

36% increase is not much of an impact?

Trick - 9/2/2011 5:45:26 PM

-5 Boost

Agreed once again totally un-educated on the statistics, and on the car.

Ingorance is bliss its the MB way.

chewy - 9/1/2011 5:40:39 PM

-2 Boost

Or maybe they could try selling luxury vehicles that sell for more than 60,000? The entry level G makes up a bigger slice of Infiniti sales than the A4 does for Audi.

610looper - 9/2/2011 11:34:04 AM

-3 Boost

enter the G25................

Agent009 - 9/1/2011 4:32:07 PM

-1 Boost

That might be needed.

AgentOrange - 9/1/2011 5:24:44 PM

+4 Boost

Audi is targetting Infiniti???????

Trick - 9/2/2011 5:54:24 PM

0 Boost

Infiniti isn't even in that class.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 9/2/2011 6:30:26 PM

-4 Boost

Might just be because they are more interested in the "Rest Of The World" where they make more money on each vehicle sold.

asafianow - 9/4/2011 1:41:24 AM

+2 Boost

Audi will never be #1 in the US, and it isn't trying to be. If they become too big like Lexus, all that will happen is that quality will be sacrificed, and clients will become spoiled.

Audi is and will forever be a niche car for the luxury buyer that isn't trying to be trendy. They forfeit 30% profit to have a car sold in the US over any other country... so their incentive to drastically increase production just isn't there.

cs4444 - 9/5/2011 10:19:19 AM

+6 Boost

Crikey, the A4/5, and Q5 sales are slipping..and the models are not that old!!

The R8 contines to fail with sales...

Neverfollow - 9/7/2011 8:45:31 PM

-3 Boost

Well....after sifting through the BS comments above, I'll throw in an educated 2 cents worth and be the last word. First of all, the A4 and Q5 numbers slipped because of lack of inventory. In fact, all the numbers could have been dramatically better had inventory existed on any of the model lines. Agreed, Audi sells cars in the US at a drastic discount compared to the rest of the world. That's kinda why we in the US are last on the list of places to sell highly profitable hot selling cars. Audi is interested in expanding the US market at a slow, controlled and predictable rate. They are not interested in giving away prized inventory from places like China or Europe where they get all the "dough" to peddle them away for pennies in the US. Infiniti's sales numbers are close to Audi's in the US. They are sometimes a much lower priced competitor in many cases but still in the "high line luxury import market" just as Audi is. To sell more expesive cars at the same rate as a competitor selling cheaper cars says something for the brand. I disagree with the "trendy" comment. I think Audi buyers are indeed, very trendy. Amongst the most trendy in the world would be more like it. They tend to be artists, musicians, actors, producers, writers, etc. They also are CEOs in several "trendy" businesses like Apple computer, Several solar companies and other trendy "green" technology businesses as well. Your traditional Lawyer, Doctor, Dentist types still seem to go with the flow of the competition in large part but some of them stray. A "niche" builder? Yes and no. In the US they are a "niche" brand but globally play hard ball with the big boys. We in the US tend to beleive marketing BS way beyond the point after which it's no longer true. More so than just about any other country I believe. Anyone surprised to the see the new Jag XJ beat out the 7 series in Road and Track recently? Anyone believe it? It even beat the Audi A8L in the sporty dynamics catagory. Not bad for a company that just got handed over to a new owner and probably didn't have a lot of money spent on it's development. BMW has LOTS of money. The press has been hailing the praises of Audi and other brands for years and it's slowly but surely taking effect. The brand is extremely popular everywhere. It'd be even more popular here if the Germans would sell us any. Yes MB and BMW have plants in the US built long ago that construct cars for US dollars that sell for Euros and other strong currencies. That gives them an economic advantage not enjoyed by the Porsche family unfortunately. Yes, BMW and MB sell twice as many cars in the US making them slaves to our economy as we Americans represent about 20% of the global business, not a chunk they are prepared to lose. Incentives all over the place to "maintain market share" is the name of the game here in the US. Good for the US car buyer, not healthy for the brands in the long term.

M5twinturbo - 9/8/2011 3:47:01 PM

+3 Boost

That’s a nice long excuse, but all the German manufactures are short on inventory due to strong demand. At least the R8's are not in demand there are over 200 sitting on dealer lots in the US. Also BMW sells plenty of cars in the US, and still is more profitable than Audi without the platform sharing Audi has with VW. BMW is better run, better managed, better engineered, and has better brand recognition. The A1 sells for thousands less than a Mini.LOL…not very premium. BMW’s regular models may not have the super sporty characteristics car magazines enjoy, but they are still amazing to drive, and more comfortable which most customers value. And with M models where performance does matter, BMW trounces RS every time. Audi=always follow.

Neverfollow - 9/14/2011 8:20:58 PM

0 Boost

After some research, I found 3 R8 GT's not spoken for. 14 V10 Auto coupes, 10 V10 manual couples, 1 V8 Auto Coupe, 4 V8 manual coupes, 8 V10 Auto Spyders, 5 V10 manual spyders, 0 V8 Auto Spyders, and one V8 manual Spyder for a grand total of 46 unspoken for R8's currently for sale in the US as of this day. There are hundred of various BMW's sitting at my local dealers lot and less than 50 total Audi's. Platform sharing is very limited with VW and even when they do share, they are still highly modified, those platforms are A3, TT, Q7. The MLP platform is Audi only and has nothing to do with the Passat, CC, Jetta, or any other VW Platform. The A8 shares it's platform with the Bentley Mulsanne, the R8 with the Lamborghini Gallardo. The Porsche Panamera shares it's electrical system with the previous generation A6. The new A6, A7 and A8 all share components together just as the A4, A5, Q5 all share certain things as well. The M series BMW's don't always trounce the Audi RS models. I assume you are referring to the RS5 vs M3 comparisons? We don't all live on the Nurburgring so making a better road car for daily use does not necessarily mean it will have the fastest track time. Comfort is a totally suggestive thing and not even worth presenting an argument over.