The Apple Of The Industry? Audi Does What It Always Does And Blows Away Last Year's Sales By 11%

After its seventh consecutive year of record sales in the U.S., Audi continued that momentum in January with its 73rd straight record month. The previous January record was set in 2016 with 11,850 vehicles sold.

January results were bolstered by strong demand across the SUV lineup, with total SUV sales increasing 22 percent over last January. The Q5 was the volume leader with 3,636 vehicles sold, an increase of 35 percent. Sales of the Q3 rose 31 percent over last year to 1,181 vehicles. The Q7 posted 2,411 sales for the month, an increase of 3 percent.

Consumer demand for Audi sedan models was also strong. The A4 sedan posted sales of 1,737 vehicles, a 31 percent increase. The A6 sedan recorded 1,008 deliveries in January, an increase of 20 percent from last year.

Sales of the A3 Sportback e-tron did well in January with 387 vehicles, an increase of 18 percent and the third-best sales month on record for the plug-in hybrid. The recently launched all-new A4 allroad, which offers the performance of a sedan and the versatility of an SUV, posted a sales increase of 49 percent.

“Coming off a record year, we were pleased to see strong consumer demand across the product portfolio in January,” said Mark Del Rosso, chief operating officer, Audi of America. “We believe that Audi is poised for continued success in 2017 with products that will excite our customers and draw them into our showrooms.”

USNA1999 - 2/1/2017 5:10:48 PM

+3 Boost

I am impressed, "the little engine that could".

LexSucks - 2/1/2017 7:33:01 PM

+2 Boost

Blandness sells.

MDarringer - 2/2/2017 10:45:57 AM

-1 Boost

A do steep discounts. It's easy to get an A3 for the price of a Jetta.

llaroo - 2/1/2017 8:43:55 PM

+2 Boost

when people start seeing the new Q5, A5 and A5 sportback on the road sales will soar. The new Q5 is very impressive and yes it has changed in every aspect, look closely inside and out ! I'm about to order new and can't decide A5 sportback or Q5 !

jeffgall - 2/2/2017 7:08:59 AM

+1 Boost

I'm trading in my A6 for the A5 Sportback in December. Just hoping the manual option in the A4 is available on the A5

GermanNut - 2/1/2017 9:58:12 PM

+2 Boost

People need to realize just how impressive the 11% sales growth is for Audi given its model lineup.

The new 2018 Q5 will launch sales in May - just 4 months from now. Despite that, the current Q5 was up 35% for January compared to 2016's figures. When models are this close to being replaced their sales usually don't skyrocket making Audi's Q5 sales even more impressive.

The Q3, while somewhat new to the U.S, has actually been on sales in its current form in Europe for many years. Despite its age, it too saw sales skyrocket almost 31%. Once the Q3 gets the updated technology like Audi Virtual Cockpit, Traffic Jam Assist etc. its sales will also rise.

The new A4 is seeing strong sales as well, up 31.1% for the month.

Audi is on a hugely impressive sales growth streak in the U.S. Despite having very old high-volume SUV models like the Q3 and Q5 it is Audi's SUVs that continue to lead U.S. growth for the brand.

The new 2018 A5/S5 Coupe and Sportback models will also have their sales debuts in 2017.

This is an exciting year for Audi without a doubt and it is already achieving double-digit growth before the new A5/S5 Coupe, Sportback and Q5 SUV have launched sales.

valhallakey - 2/1/2017 11:26:04 PM

+5 Boost

Audi has been smart, nice exteriors, beautiful interiors, built over the top of inexpensive VW platforms. Very similar to what Lexus has done on several models like the ES/RX lines. Definitely allows them to be more competitive when compared to BMW and Mercedes who have bespoke platforms for their car lines. It looks like BMW is starting to move in that direction with the 1 series sharing a platform with the mini...which will be sad in a way. I like that BMW mounts the motor behind the front axle to ensure great weight distribution and theoretically better handling, I don't think they would do that if given a platform designed primarily for an economy line of cars. They would be just re skinning them, making a fancier interior and tweaking handling/steering to feel more special. Instead right now everything is done for a particular line from the ground up.

llaroo - 2/2/2017 10:28:37 AM

+2 Boost

tell me the new style direction from Lexus is not going to get old overnight. No pedigree, no evolution, just clumsy thought that catches your eye all for the wrong reasons. If you understand core principles of design you know what I mean. We need companies like Audi to lead not companies like Lexus

MDarringer - 2/2/2017 10:44:47 AM

-3 Boost

Hey, if you don't mind spending $75K to look like you're driving a 15 year old Camry, then Audi is perfect for you.

bw5011 - 2/2/2017 3:34:33 PM

+3 Boost

I am convinced that MDarringer was fired by Audi or somebody in the VAG family.

MDarringer - 2/2/2017 4:40:00 PM

-2 Boost

You overestimate my worldly influence, but I appreciate the thought.

malba2367 - 2/2/2017 11:35:15 AM

+3 Boost

This is pretty amazing considering they haven't even released the new q3 and q5 for sales in the USA yet. When their new lineup is available globally they will be giving BMW a run for their money in the USA and surpass MB in global sales.

GermanNut - 2/2/2017 7:48:06 PM

+3 Boost

I absolutely agree. 11% year-over-year sales growth with outdated Q5 and A5 models that are in their final months of sales and a Q3 that lacks Audi's latest platform and technological features is hugely impressive.

2017 is gearing up to be an enormously successful year for Audi considering the new Q5 and A5 essentially take the existing models (buyers continue to purchase the existing Q5 in huge numbers) and improve on them in nearly every way possible.

malba2367 - 2/3/2017 9:04:44 AM

+1 Boost

The new Q5 looks pretty impressive. Very nice interior...nicely updated exterior. The only thing stopping me from getting one for my wife is that I don't like the idea of spending close to $50K for a car that is hecho en Mexico. Most buyers won't know or care though and Im sure it'll be a huge success for Audi globally and in the US (the previous Q5 was the top seller in its class in the US until the NX came around)

cidflekken - 2/3/2017 11:34:08 AM

0 Boost

Audi = Lexus, Lexus = Audi

Both companies are relying heavily on the lower-end of the luxury market to bolster their sales numbers. Until both brands' mid-to-upper level models compete, then it would be hard for me to consider them a true "threat" to Benz and BMW, no matter what the sales numbers show. This may change fairly quickly when the LC and LS are released.

GermanNut - 2/3/2017 5:01:41 PM

+1 Boost

I assure you that BMW executives consider Audi a true "threat" because BMW also has cars in the lower price range that Audi relies on for the bulk of its sales. If potential buyers are purchasing Audi Q3s, A3s and A4s instead of BMW X1s, 1-Series Coupes and 3-Series sedans that means BMW is losing customers to the competition.

The chances of those Audi buyers also considering a BMW are very high. It means that Audi is providing something that is convincing those buyers to purchase an Audi instead of the comparable BMW. BMW executives would not have jobs if they didn't take that as a serious threat.

cidflekken - 2/3/2017 6:04:12 PM

0 Boost

I assure you I don't care. Until Audi builds out an entire lineup of upper-tier cars, they won't be a threat.

GermanNut - 2/3/2017 6:23:30 PM

+1 Boost

Good thing you aren't an executive at BMW. With that mindset, BMW will fall into 3rd place globally.

The upper-tier models (let's say more than $85K) sell in such few numbers globally that they hardly makes a dent.

The low-end is far more important to a company's overall revenue and profitability as well as overall sales.

cidflekken - 2/3/2017 9:15:25 PM

+1 Boost

Yes, you are correct. That is absolutely critical for Tier 2 luxury brands. But that's not what we're talking about here.

malba2367 - 2/4/2017 1:12:43 AM

+1 Boost

Globally Audi certainly is not a "Tier 2" luxury brand. MB, Audi and BMW are all pretty close in sales. MB skews a little to the higher end as S class dominates this segment. In the executive category the A6 does pretty well globally, outselling the E class and 5 series in Europe and China. I can assure you that top management at MB and BMW both take Audi very seriously. Audi can run with the best of them, and has immense engineering resources and synergies within VAG that they can leverage to their advantage.