Audi Top Premium Brand in Western Europe

Keeping up the good work you've done in the past years is suddenly an extremely difficult task during economic recession, as the market is almost completely changed from what we've seen over the last months. Just take a look at the automotive industry which forced American automakers to beg for money from the local government... Nevertheless, a few companies claim the economic recession was less damaging to their sales and, even though they experience a slight decrease in sales, they are pretty much the same top brands we know.

Audi for instance said today it became Western Europe's Top Premium Brand as it managed to oversell all its premium competitors in this side of the continent. No less than 45,124 vehicles were delivered in January, with 5.1 percent of new Western European vehicle registration this month accounted by the German company.

“We have moved our product offensive into the passing lane,” says Schwarzenbauer. “Particularly in economically strained times, it is crucial that we at Audi offer our customers precisely what they want. We must offer appealing and sporty models which stir enthusiasm among Audi fans – vehicles that are also highly energy-efficient and low on consumption. In 2009, we will remain on the offensive,” Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG, says.

And Audi plans to continue the ascending trend in 2009, despite the gloomy predictions issued by market analysts around the world. Six new Audi models are expected to reach the market this year, the company said, explaining that this may be exactly the fifth element to help it achieve its goals.

“By 2015, we expect to offer Audi customers 40 different models, all loaded with forward-thinking technologies. To this end, we invest some two billion euros annually in product development,” Schwarzenbauer said.