Audi is Western Europe’s Top Premium Brand

[Tumbo]

Audi sold 45,124 cars in Western Europe in January, topping its fellow German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz



Audi continues on the warpath and its strategy of matching and exceeding its fellow German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz in sales seems to be working.

For the first time, Audi reported sales figures for January 2009 which topped its premium brand competitors. The automaker, part of the VW Group, sold 45,124 new vehicles in Western Europe, beating both Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

It seems Audi's market share is benefiting from the slump in auto sales currently hitting the market not only in Western Europe but all over the world. For January, its market share in the region was 5.1 percent, compared with a 3.9 percent share in January 2008.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, who heads Sales and Marketing at Audi AG, believes that the age of the brand's product range is what is helping the automaker gain share in the market. Audi has one of the youngest fleets in the premium segment. Last year, it released 12 new models and for the first half of 2009 there will be 6 more.

A lead in monthly sales has been a long time coming for the Ingolstadt-based premium automaker, which has spent the past two decades creating a brand name that can match the more established ones of BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Whether the image of an Audi has caught up with the prestige of either of those brands is still an open question and one difficult to quantify. But sales figures, one cannot argue against.

Audi is Western Europe?s Top Premium Brand - worldcarfans

 

[far2000]

Congrats 2 audi, There Management has been spot on, And they look on course 2 be number 1 come end of the year.......

 

[conan_55]

Pretty soon enough the BMW creative marketing will voice their opinions.. LOL

 

[coolraoul]

Kudos to Audi. Really well-done, who could've thought that it could happen 10 or even 5 years ago?

IMO the giant grille, LEDs in the front and rear lights, were really helpful to give Audi more presence. And a strong advertisement, too, underlining the technological and modern side of Audi.

Awesome job Audi

 

[Yperion]

It's clear to me that Audi has the potential to be the No1 luxury carmaker in sales around the world.

 

[Zafiro]

It's clear to me that Audi has the potential to be the No1 luxury carmaker in sales around the world.

Of course. In the future I believe Audi/BMW/MB will take turn on who will be the best selling company. Neither will remain top one forever, its a changing market.

 

[Yperion]

Of course. Nothing lasts forever.

Who knows? Maybe even Lexus can climb to the top in 10 years from now.

 

[bmer]

Congrats to Audi! Their work seems to be bearing fruit.

 

[EnI]

As said before: Audi has a potential to overtake BMW & MB in sales in the future - due to A1. Since MB & BMW offer their sub-compact cars under separate brands (MINI / smart). Unless BMW's Project i is also offered under BMW brand (eg. BMW Isetta) - then it will be harder for Audi.

Also ... IMO Audi's current lead could be of short breath. They have all the major models fresh, with high-volume model just launched Q5, and A5 cabrio coming. And A4 Allroad. Later also A7 & A5 Spotback. A1 next year. Therefore - due introduction of various new models - Audi's drop in sales isn't as prominent as the one of BMW & MB.

Mind MB - despite having GLK already in showrooms, the production of E-class & CLK is stopped, sales very low - due the Mk changeover. Sedan & coupe will be offered soon, T-model & cabrio later.

BMW - new Z4 is still not in the showrooms, X1 & 5er GT coming later this year - but not soon enough.

Audi is in the phase MB & BMW had been in the past: eg. MB when introducing ML, A, later B. BMW with X5, then X3, 1er, 6er.

Of course your market share increases when you introduce new models.

But I'm kind a happy everyone has found a category wher he leads in: Audi - bestseller in Western Europe, BMW - bestseller in the world, MB - bestseller in the true luxury category (beyond $50k).

And btw, it's a bit ironic to compete in a cataegory "the least lost blood". In a current situation everybody is bleeding. Some more, some less. In the end all will end up in red numbers. That's inevitable.

Read this: Luxury-Car Makers Suffer - WSJ.com

 

[braaf]

As said before: Audi has a potential to overtake BMW & MB in sales in the future - due to A1. Since MB & BMW offer their sub-compact cars under separate brands (MINI / smart). Unless BMW's Project i is also offered under BMW brand (eg. BMW Isetta) - then it will be harder for Audi.

Also ... IMO Audi's current lead could be of short breath. They have all the major models fresh, with high-volume model just launched Q5, and A5 cabrio coming. And A4 Allroad. Later also A7 & A5 Spotback. A1 next year. Therefore - due introduction of various new models - Audi's drop in sales isn't as prominent as the one of BMW & MB.

Mind MB - despite having GLK already in showrooms, the production of E-class & CLK is stopped, sales very low - due the Mk changeover. Sedan & coupe will be offered soon, T-model & cabrio later.

BMW - new Z4 is still not in the showrooms, X1 & 5er GT coming later this year - but not soon enough.

Audi is in the phase MB & BMW had been in the past: eg. MB when introducing ML, A, later B. BMW with X5, then X3, 1er, 6er.

Of course your market share increases when you introduce new models.

But I'm kind a happy everyone has found a category wher he leads in: Audi - bestseller in Western Europe, BMW - bestseller in the world, MB - bestseller in the true luxury category (beyond $50k).

And btw, it's a bit ironic to compete in a cataegory "the least lost blood". In a current situation everybody is bleeding. Some more, some less. In the end all will end up in red numbers. That's inevitable.

Read this: Luxury-Car Makers Suffer - WSJ.com

EnI correct me if I'm wrong, but i think the fact that audi inherits engines and technology from its parents have alot to do with its success. Hence they have a bigger budget for marketing and areas where it matters. BMW and Merc have to Budget alot more carefully though. Your thoughts?

 

[Tarek]

^True.

Still congrats and kudos,Audi deserved it