Audi Sales Increase For The 69th Consecutive Month - Up 1.6% In September

Audi sales for September increased 1.6 percent to 17,617 vehicles, the brand’s best sales for the month in its U.S. history, surpassing the previous record of 17,340 vehicles set last year. The Q3, Q7 and A4 led the volume gains.

September 2016 marks the 69th month of record sales for Audi of America. Year-to-date sales have risen 3.2 percent to 152,179.

Sales of Audi SUV models remained steady with a 1.6 percent increase over last September and an 18 percent increase year-to-date. The Q3 posted sales of 1,919 vehicles for the month, marking the second-best sales month on record for the model and a 70 percent increase over last September. Q7 sales rose 28 percent to 2,475 vehicles and 52 percent year-to-date.

Audi opened its first North American manufacturing facility Sept. 30, dedicated to producing the new version of the Q5 SUV, which debuted the day before at the Paris Motor Show. The factory gives AUDI AG a third global pillar, after Europe and China, to continue its profitable growth.

“With an all-new Q5 and state-of-the-art factory in our region, Audi will be able to build on the massive success of the model’s first generation and better serve our U.S. customers and dealers, cutting delivery times in half,” said Mark Del Rosso, chief operating officer, Audi of America.

September results were also bolstered by solid demand for the new A4, countering a trend in the overall U.S. market away from sedans. The A4 sedan posted sales of 3,175 vehicles, a 43 percent increase for the month and a 15 percent increase year-to-date.

GermanNut - 10/3/2016 12:54:48 PM

-4 Boost

A very strong month for the A4 (up 43% for the month) Q7 (up 27.5% for the month) and Q3 (up 69.8% for the month). I forgot who kept saying that the A4's YTD gains were mainly due to the previous generation, but the data indicate that clearly is not accurate. The A4, Q3 and Q7 have all seen very strong YTD growth as well.

Another interesting thing is that despite so many commenter's constant criticism of Audi's design trends that they claim fail to differentiate themselves enough from previous generation models, month after month for nearly 6 consecutive years Audi has seen monthly sales growth in the U.S. market and gained marketshare.

During these 6 years BMW has suffered several months of double-digit sales declines and has even seen its SUV sales decline despite the trend of consumers purchasing more SUVs and fewer sedans. BMW's sales growth over the past 6 years has been a fraction of Audi's.

GermanNut - 10/3/2016 12:58:19 PM

-6 Boost

I should add above that BMW's SUV sales have declined YTD for 2016, but are up overall over the last 6 years. That still is a very bad situation for BMW given the recent increase in SUV sales for the market overall.

carsnyc - 10/3/2016 2:40:52 PM

0 Boost

A4 alive and kicking so one thumbs up above is from me, GermanNut

TheSteve - 10/3/2016 2:58:04 PM

+2 Boost

Audi's Number One! Audi is invincible! Audi sales just keep going up and up and up!

Just kidding, folks ;-) I'm just waiting for that first month in which Audi experiences negative growth, and loses their 69-month streak. Shit happens to everyone, eventually.

hangtime010 - 10/3/2016 4:10:08 PM

+1 Boost

You're right, the bubble will eventually burst..But it's quite an achievement for ANY manufacturer to be making positive gains for 69 straight months.

GermanNut - 10/3/2016 5:32:57 PM

-4 Boost

Yes, the streak will one day end but that doesn't fail to make it impressive. BMW went from holding the U.S. and global sales crown to trailing Mercedes-Benz by nearly 20,000 units in the U.S. and likely 70,000 units globally in just one year.

That shows how failing to adapt to changing consumer needs has burned BMW and made it pay a huge price.

mpls - 10/3/2016 5:44:36 PM

+5 Boost

Surely some numbers fudging ?

Lots of Pre-registering and offering of favourable lease terms and incentives ?