Audi sold 119,600 vehicles in July 2012 around the world, a 12.9% increase compared to the same month last year. This means that last month was Audi’s best July ever. Audi, which is the luxury unit of the Volkswagen Group, said that demand for its models increased in all the major markets, which include Europe where the overall auto market is experiencing a slump because of the economic difficulties in the region. Audi’s July sales figure is higher than that of rival BMW, which sold 113,253 vehicles last month, a 4.2% increase. On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz sales decreased by 3.1% to 97,327. Audi is counting on the new models to be launched, including the redesigned A3 premium compact car, to help drive sales in the second half of the year.
In a statement last Thursday, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said that after having this successful start at the second half, the company expects that the new A3 will offer an added boost in the upcoming months. Audi sold 32,877 vehicles in China (its largest single market), higher by 18.4% compared to July 2011. This led to a combined seven-month sales total of 226,748, standing for a 34.6% increase.
Audi’s sales of the locally-built Q5 midsize SUV increased by 80% in China to 50,170 units during the first seven months. Last month, Audi launched the Q3 small SUV in the country to help increase sales in the crucial SUV segment. Last month, overall sales in Audi's European market grew by 5.5% to 60,800, despite an economic downturn in consumer confidence as the result of the eurozone crisis. From January to July 2012, sales increased by 3.1% to 454,200 units. Sales in Germany, which is Audi's biggest market in Europe, had increased by 10.7% in July to 23,712. And over the past seven months, its sales increased by 7.8% to 157,885.
