Audi, Sales Record in the Making

A great first half of the year in terms of sales made German manufacturer Audi jump for joy at the prospect of reaching the otherwise bold 1 million+ sales target set for 2010, the second time the carmaker plans to reach that milestone after the similar feat in 2008. Audi sold in the first half of the year 554,950 vehicles, topping the results of last year by 19.1 percent.

“The first half proved considerably better than we had expected, above all in European markets and the United States,” Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi member of the board for Marketing and Sales said in a statement.

The first half of the year, as well as the month of June, meant for Audi several premieres. For one, the German manufacturer managed to post its first month ever when it surpasses 20,000 vehicles sold in China.

China remains perhaps the hottest market in the Audi portfolio, with, again, an over 60 percent leap in appetite (61.6 percent increase, 21,436 units). This makes China largely responsible for the 26,300 vehicles sold in the entire Asia-Pacific region.

Secondly, the 14.3 percent increase on the US market (48,440 vehicles) means that, for the first time, Audi plans to pass the 100,000 units mark of vehicles sold in a year.

“Over the past year in particular we have been investing considerable amounts in our brand and the dealer network in the United States. We are now reaping the rewards. This year, our aim is to break through the barrier of 100,000 cars in the United States for the first time ever,” Schwarzenbauer added.