Global Sales: January 2008: Audi, BMW, MB +++

[KokkenTor]

Audi: 78.700 (+4,7%) ... report (german) ---> Automobilwoche

BMW: TBA

Mercedes: 82.300 (+12,0%)
Smart: 8.000 (+134%)
Total: 90.400 (+16,3%) ... report ----> Daimler - Home - Mercedes-Benz Cars off to a Successful Start in 2008: Sales Grow by 16 Percent in January

 

[Merc1]

Those are about the best numbers I can remember seeing for Mercedes and Smart.

M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I hope MB manage to maintain this sales momentum. A new CLK should help this year as should the GLK. I also think the underlying quality stigma is fading away as people are realizing Benz is back to its old self. The new C-class has really driven this point home here in Australia. I just can't believe how successfully it has been so far, hammering the 3-series in sales. The 3-er has dominated its segment for decades.

 

[LaArtist]

MB is on fiiiiiire

 

[KokkenTor]

"Bad" global figures from BMW in January:

BMW: 77,156 (-4,1%)
Mini: 15,432 (+13,3%)
Rolls-Royce: 41 (+64,0%)
Total: 92,629 (-1,6%) ... report (german) ---> Press Information

For the first time in history BMW sold fewer cars in a month than Audi!

 

[LaArtist]

^and this is a result of low inventory around the whole world?
somehow i dont buy that

what i can buy is that their bread and butter car ( 3er ) is in for a FL..and looks desperetly old compared to the C and A4

 

[PHYBENZ]

That is pretty crazy that Audi sold more cars than BMW. Audi is something to really watch out for. They don't have many models compared to MB or BMW, but are still selling a lot of cars.

 

[LaArtist]

^actually bmw and audi has the exact same nr of modells..

9 each..

1,3,5,6,7,X3,X5,X6,Z4
A3.A4.A5.A6,A8,TT,Q7,R8,Q5


PS
Q5 i added cause Bmw has the X6 both are new..and not yet sold.. take them away and they had 8 each before

 

[EnI]

That was expected since the bad performance in BMW biggest market: USA. Mind that in January 2008 BMW (BMW brand only) sold -26.7% less cars (5,286 cars less!!!) than in Jan 2007.

With better US sales the global total sales would exceed 80k mark easily.

Other markets are doing quite well.

BMW officials are also very cautious for the 2008 sales forecasts. They do acknowledge BMW Group as a whole will remain the #1 premium car maker, yet it's still not sure BMW brand will be able to remain #1 in the world. MB with GLK, new C, numerous facelifts, etc is a great threat. Audi as well with upcoming Q5 (Fall), new A4 (especially Avant), facelifts A6 & A3 etc.

This year will be very even for all the big 3 premium Germans. Mind that BMW expect 3er sales to slow down in the 2Q & 3Q due to upcoming facelift coming in September.

This year will be really interesting.

 

[EnI]

That is pretty crazy that Audi sold more cars than BMW. Audi is something to really watch out for. They don't have many models compared to MB or BMW, but are still selling a lot of cars.

True. Small SUV still missing in their model line. And a large coupe.

Audi is VERY popular in Europe - since it offers best value for money, and also has very practical products. MB & BMW have a bit too special status to appeal to such broader customer base as Audi do (especially outside Germany). Audi is still considered more "common" & more "acceptable" than BMW & MB - also due to FWD, since some people (esp. European females) are still a bit afraid of RWD. Audi have also stayed constant in built quality & materials, while BMW & MB failed at certain moments - boosting Audi image for free!

And mind that Audi Avant models are VERY VERY popular in Europe. Also A3 vs 1er gives Audi huge advantage since A3 Sportback is much more practical & comfortable / roomy than 1er 5dr hatch - therefore attracting more customers. Also Audi are usually priced a bit lower than comparable MB & BMW models (with same equipment!).

Audi is also on the roll in China - enjoying the advantage of long-term presence there, and much larger production capacities than BMW & MB.

IF ... a big if ... Audi were performing better in US market they would be #1 already. Yet they have a good chance to become #1 in the future still. Why? Mainly due China (where -as explaind before - they have significant advantage over MB & BMW) & mainly due A1-family. As you know for sub-compact models MB & BMW use separate brands: Smart & MINI (and possibly another brand coming in the future), while Audi will brand their sub-compact cars (A1 platform models) Audi. So, add another 150,000 units to Audi total annual sales ... BINGO!

Audi are very formidable. Do not forget they have excellent engineers, and enjoying all advantages VW & Porsche companies can offer (especially in areas like R&D, purchasing, production etc). MB & BMW better start to cooperate ASAP.

 

[Merc1]

Volkswagen says global sales rose 11 percent in January

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Automaker Volkswagen AG said today its January global sales rose by 11 percent to a record high.

The Wolfsburg-based company, Europe's biggest car maker in terms of sales, said it sold 485,000 cars worldwide in January, its biggest amount ever for that month. The company didn't give comparative figures and was not immediately available for comment.

"As a group, we are well positioned with our brands and our constantly expanding range of models and are entering the coming months with complete confidence," said Detlef Wittig, the company's sales and marketing chief.

Demand was strong in Europe, where sales rose 7.4 percent to 224,000, with 65,000 of that in its home market of Germany, an increase of nearly 15 percent.

In Asia, the company said it sold 105,000 cars, up 33.7 percent from last year. Of that amount, 94,000 cars were sold in China alone, up 36.7 percent from last year.

In South America, sales rose 19 percent with 62,000 cars delivered.

Volkswagen's brands include VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti.

By brand, the company said it sold 288,000 VWs, up 13 percent from last year; 79,000 Audis for an increase of 4.7 percent; and Skoda reported sales of 52,000, up 16 percent.

Seat said its sales fell 3 percent to 29,000, while Bentley sold 800 cars, an increase of 2.3 percent.

Lamborghini said its sales rose by 41 percent, with 200 cars, while Bugatti delivered three cars in January, down from five in January 2007.

In the United States, however, sales fell 8.8 percent to 21,000 cars sold. For all of North America, sales fell 10.3 percent to 37,000 cars sold.

The news came the same day Nissan Motor Co. Executive Carlos Ghosn said even if the United States is not in recession, its auto industry is.

"We are very lucid on the situation of the industry that there is a recession in the United States, at least in the car market," Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn told reporters in Seoul, South Korea, saying automakers face rising costs for iron ore, precious metals, aluminum and other materials.

"These represent risk for the industry," he said, adding, however, that the American auto market "will not stay in recession for a long time."


Volkswagen says global sales rose 11 percent in January


M