AUDI OF AMERICA, INC. REPORTS JULY SALES

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.- Audi of America, Inc. today reported July 2006 sales of 7,005 units, down just 1.5 percent compared to year ago sales, as the company is experiencing its lowest vehicle inventories in several years. Sales through the first seven months of 2006 remain on a record pace; Audi dealers have sold 47,460 vehicles this year.

The company experienced lower inventories in July due especially to consumer demand for the Q7 performance utility. Audi also reported vehicle sales in key markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami improved significantly.

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PlanoA4 - 8/1/2006 1:08:03 PM

+1 Boost

logical- you are coorect but the are phasing in new models and the inventories will drop. Look at the sales and the release news and you see.

A3- this is the first month it was against a figure last year and the just like the Q7 now there was a big preorder delivery the first two months.

TT- Phasing out the old and in with the new, this is typical of a before design change .

A4- These sales are indeed down a bit.

We will have to see how the others fare to get an overall picture.

PlanoA4 - 8/1/2006 1:08:07 PM

+1 Boost

IamEvilHomer - 8/1/2006 1:54:24 PM

+1 Boost

logical - Sales are up for the year.

1. I work for an Audi dealer and we have about 10 2006s left when we usualy have 150 cars in stock.

2. There is no TT 2007

3. The Q7 "volume" car (the 3.6) is not here yet

4. There is no advertising for the highest selling Audi the A4 (not to mention the lease whent up about 100 bucks a month

5. We have 1 2006 left and just got our 2007s (only 6) and we usualy have about 40 A6s to sell

6. There is little A6 lease support so the payment is $$$

7. There is little support from the factory for the A8 lease. The payment is $1,400 about anyday

8. The RS4s are sold out for 4 months

9. The Q7 4.2s are almost sold out

10. There is no Allroad

11. We have 2 A3s in stock and the oldest is about 4 days old.

13. Have you seen the lease payment of an A3? .003+ money factor.

Do you see the point? Audi is going just fine in the USA. About a year ago Audi made a desision not to "buy" market share. We use to have a payment for a A6 2.7T S-line (loaded) for $399 a month with "$0 out of pocket!!!" Now a A6 lease is 2x that.

A little off topic but in the same idea I have noticed that there is a large segment of old Audi customers that can't afford the new Audi payments. As Audi has gone more upmarket in the USA the customer has changed. In the last 16 lease returns we have only had 3 releases. Usualy we have about a 70% release rate.

The number one reason they are not releasing is they can't afford the payment. Most of my customers are first time Audi customers from other highend makes. I can understand that Audi has to just pull off the bandaid and get the pain over with but they need to do a little to "retain" customers (ie loyality with $ or first payments paid by the factory or a pull ahead program.

But for the most part all is well on the Audi front. (
even though there is no employee program)

IamEvilHomer - 8/1/2006 1:55:23 PM

+2 Boost

correction to #5 we have only one 2006 A6 left.

IamEvilHomer - 8/1/2006 2:19:06 PM

+1 Boost

Logical

The problem for BMW is not that bad because the "volume" cars are still new and in great demand. Audi likes to stick it to us on all fronts

chewy - 8/1/2006 2:31:39 PM

+1 Boost

Yes, as everyone can read, they said that inventories were low. That means when people come into the dealership, they don't have much selection, when they don't find what they want, they don't buy. I think that next month you will see improved sales.

chewy - 8/1/2006 2:58:32 PM

+1 Boost

logical,

I know, it is Audi's fault for not having enough inventory. But then again, I think that it will be fixed by the time August's sales are reported.

chewy - 8/1/2006 5:52:51 PM

+1 Boost

BTW, BMW lovers. BMW's sales went down 13.4 percent. Audis sales went down much less.

MercBasher - 8/1/2006 6:18:19 PM

0 Boost

Amazing, Mercedes and Lexus again report growth in the US market and Audi sputters despite the new Q7. Fire Audi management in the US now! What's really surprising is that it looks like the A3 has peaked and the A4 is not meeting the competition from BMW 3 series and Lexus IS and ES.

Audi management - you're pathetic.

chewy - 8/1/2006 7:12:07 PM

+1 Boost

MercBasher

Have you read the report? They had a low inventory. I guess that is the managment's fault, but no reason to fire them immediately. You should look at BMW, their sales went down 13.4 percent.

SixxFive - 8/2/2006 12:26:01 AM

0 Boost

Chewy - you keep on foaming at the mouth about BMW's sales. Granted, their July sales were down but it's really not fair to compare when they sell approx. 20,000 cars a month MORE than Audi. It skews the percentage.

chewy - 8/2/2006 12:33:54 AM

+1 Boost

I don't think I am foaming, I know who sells more, but I also know who had less improvement.

IamEvilHomer - 8/2/2006 3:55:26 AM

+1 Boost

MercBasher- I agree that Audi of America has issues/ I can't tell if it is AoAs fault or germany not listening to what we need here but the Q7 4.2 is not going to be a high volume SUV and will not overtake what the TT and Allroad did. When the 3.6 arrives and if gas prices go down expect better volume.

SixxFive - the logic dosen't make sence so if you sell more volume and have a 13.4% decrease then that is why?

Let me show you math

10-1=9 or 90% of 10

100-1=99 or 99% of 100

get the point if BMW sells more cars and they are down 13.4 % that is a bigger loss then Audi losing 1.5%

IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO UNDERSTAND