Audi's Winning Sales Streak Continues With A 2.5% Increase In May

Audi just keeps getting it done.

So looks like Audi gave away all of their previous generation A5 inventory to make room for the new model. Or people bought them in droves because they were so disappointed in the new design.

Audi is no different than BMW where buyers can get a 3-Series for under $300 per month. Go check the discounts on the 7-Series. Buyers are routinely getting $7.5K-$12K off MSRP. Despite BMW's heavy discounting its sales are still flat or falling. That shows its products are losing appeal because even with huge discounts, BMW's sales can't manage to stay positive for more than one or two straight months.

Beautiful sales numbers! This is why Audi is posed to overtake MB in global sales within a year or two.

Audi's sales strategy has been flawlessly executed. The upcoming models will help to increase Audi's profit margins even greater than before. Considering MB has one of the lowest profit margins among the luxury brands, thanks to their Formula 1 involvement.

The plan is for the next generation A4/A5 to move to the more versatile and sporty MQB platform. With the potent, famed Haldex AWD system, the next RS5 will be a far better car than either M3 or C63.

When the $16,000 subcompact A1 eventually goes on here in the USA, it'll introduced thousands of new and young customers to the Audi brand, and it'll add a significant boost to Audi's global sales. SIGNIFICANT boost. My hope is that the A1 will be based on a new, lighter, sportier A0 platform when it's here.

The next A6 will be developed off of Porsche's MSB platform. My bet is that there won't be a new development of the A8, or that the A8 will eventually be pulled off the market, because of long steady decline in sales in that segment by all manufacturers. If Hyundai or Kia wishes to venture forth and fail in that segment? I say go for it.

Audi will then develop the A7 in two variants, a sedan and a 5-door sportback, a car that's slightly bigger than the E class and far smaller than the S class, similar to what Cadillac did with the smaller CT6. That will place the A7 out of direct competition against the S class.

The other rumor is that the next R8 will be based on the next 911. All of this, essentially will mean that Audi will no longer be in charge of any platform development, ensuring maximized profit margins. Audi will continue to be a fat cow, so to speak, for VW AG.

With these strategies in place, which will place Audi further downmarket, Audi will most certainly become the number one luxury brand here in the states AND globally.

Still 4th

You cannot get a 3 series for under $300. In fact, the leases are all in the $500's and not low $500's. BMW is not being aggressive on their leasing. The reason dealerships are being aggressive, if possible, on discounts for a new BMW is because BMW dropped residuals and dealerships are trying to retain customers and get them close to their current payment. BMW is killing the dealers and hope they drop their pants to make low margins on new vehicles and BMW doesn't get their ass handed to them at auction.

@2ndbimmer This is NOT true: "You cannot get a 3 series for under $300. In fact, the leases are all in the $500's and not low $500's."

You can get a $289/month lease on one right now. Wait until Black Friday and you can get $199/month on a 320i

Granted, reading the fine print makes that price point unpalatable. BMW/Mini LOVE huge balloon payments at the end of the contract.

Audi continues so steal market share from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Most importantly, Audi has a strong product portfolio from the A4 sedan and A5 coupe to the Q3, Q5 and Q7 SUVs.

Despite already being out for a year, the new Q7 had its second best month ever. A 14.5% monthly increase and 12.3% YTD increase shows the Q7 has been a huge hit with buyers. The Q5 continues its huge sales volume. The model is up 21% YTD despite the new 2018 Q5 only going on sale in April.

The A4 continues its strong sales momentum with a 9.3% monthly increase and 17.6% YTD increase proving that buyers are drawn to its mix of luxury, design, performance and cutting-edge technology like Audi Virtual Cockpit.

With Audi set to become the first automaker to demonstrate its new autonomous driving technology in New York State in two weeks, the brand continues to be on the forefront of innovation and technology:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmccormick/2017/05/31/audi-is-first-to-test-autonomous-vehicles-in-new-york/#55aed4f959f2

Well done Audi, still 4th though in sales. Looking forward to that time that Audi can be 3rd in the U.S. then they can have the trifecta. 3rd in the U.S., 3rd in China, and 3rd Globally. Glorious days ahead.

With all seriousness, they have been 4th in sales for a while now. I do wonder when they'll be 2nd one day? My mind boggles at what kind of celebrations will be arranged. That elusive "also ran" spot.

Paint me suspicious. If someone tells me their 6-year batting average is 1000, my eyebrows will raise, yet that is the claim Audi is making, with over 6 years of month-over-month unit sales increases.

Every other car company in the world has experienced monthly variances, but not Audi. Only Audi is immune to market conditions, and economies, and seasonal differences. Only Audi has "the best" products, that defy those effects. Only Audi has the superior management team that can "manage sales" to guarantee a monthly increase, every consecutive month, over 70 times in a row, without exception. That's what Audi (and their fans) are asking you to believe.

Equally curious is the fact that even with 6+ years' worth of monthly sales increase, Audi still has not managed to catch Mercedes or BMW, who, incidentally, report monthly variances with the ups and downs that one would reasonably expect and view as being normal.

No need to look too much into those figures. Why would Audi LIE about those figures? How hard is it to imagine Audi on a winning streak that long?

After all, Audi has the best model lineup in Audi history, maybe even German history. Casting doubt on those numbers sounds like what typical MB/BMW fanboys would do - when in total denial, make up excuses!

dpalmo: FWIW, I'm happy owner of an Audi Q5, but I didn't drink the Koolaid. To paraphrase someone from the Internet, your level of unquestioning acceptance of these claims sounds like what a typical Audi fanboy would do -- blind faith in the brand.

Lol "why would Audi LIE" I don't know, it's not like they have a history of lying do they?

No one cares about your outdated 2012 Q5. It doesn't represent Audi's current technology, performance, efficiency or even interior design in anyway.

Stop using your antiquated MMI and performance as a benchmark for what Audi offers in 2017.

GermanNut: Who do you believe you're arguing with? Yours is the FIRST mention of MMI in this thread. Ditto with any references to benchmarks. Very peculiar behavior.

Actually I care. A person giving honest and balanced feedback about their vehicle that they actually use and drive is helpful. And adds credibility to any negative comments he may have about Audi.

Audi cars routinely beat BMW and Mercedes in comparison tests. Good product sells and more and more people are beginning to notice.

Could you give me the link to the article where the A8 beats the S CLass?

It's so funny how the conspiracy theories start flying when it's clear Audi's sales success is due to the huge improvements it has made over the last decade in technology, performance, efficiency, reliability, quality and innovation.

Just look at BMWs from 10 years ago to what is offered today. There is no way BMW's improvements in performance or interior quality during that time can match Audi's. I would say BMW's performance has actually declined and so has its interior quality versus its competitors.

Gone is the Ultimate Driving Machine ethos and the interiors used to be very competitive with what Audi and Mercedes-Benz offered. Today, I feel a major reason for BMW's continued decline in the U.S. is due to its lack of improved driving dynamics versus its competitors and interiors being far lower in terms of quality and visual appeal than what Mercedes-Benz and Audi offer.

BMW is trying to sell the Ultimate Driving Machine with tech-forward interiors to buyers who get soft cars lacking feel and interiors that can't match Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Buyers clearly aren't falling for it.

Audi's still 4th though, has been for years. I think buyers have had their say in terms of whose cars they buy more :)