Most Successful Ten Months in the Company’s History: Audi Heading for New Record Figures in 2006

Audi sold 757,700 vehicles worldwide in the first ten months of this year, an increase of 8.7 percent compared with the same period of last year (January to October 2005: 697,039). The company likewise succeeded in posting record sales for October itself, with 73,000 vehicles handed over to customers worldwide, an increase of 11.5 percent compared with the same month of last year. Audi has consequently just achieved its best ever October figures and the best ten-month period in the company’s history.

“We have every reason to be positive as 2006 draws to a close. Audi is firmly on course for a new record sales figure for the year as a whole. This achievement, which will be the eleventh record in succession, stems from our model range and consequently from our ability to impress our customers,” remarked Ralph Weyler, Member of the Board for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG.

The German market is likewise giving every reason to view the close of the year with optimism. With 212,086 vehicles sold, Audi achieved an increase of 2.2 percent for the period between January and October 2006 (2005: 207,431). 22,502 new Audi vehicles were handed over to customers in October, an increase of 15.1 percent.

In the first ten months, Audi succeeded in selling 348,600 vehicles in Europe excluding Germany, an increase of 7.2 percent (2005: 325,269). In October, Audi likewise posted an increase of 10.6 percent to over 31,500 vehicles (2005: 28,489).

In the USA, 69,010 vehicles were handed over to customers between January and October, an increase of 4.1 percent. In October itself, 6,431 vehicles were sold (2005: 6,659, -3.4 percent).

Audi achieved its highest rates of growth in China (excluding Hong Kong). In the first ten months, Audi was able to post growth of 60 percent in recording total sales of 65,950 vehicles. Unit sales in China were likewise positive in October, with 6,067 vehicles delivered to customers, an increase of 21 percent.

In terms of specific models, the good sales figures stem from high demand for the Audi A3 (202,400 units, + 11.3 percent), the Audi A4 Cabriolet (25,300 units, + 17.9 percent), the Audi A6 including allroad quattro (195,600 units, +12.8 percent), the Audi A8 (19,300 units, + 9.2 percent) and the Audi Q7 (39,300 units).

“The market response to the R8 is quite remarkable. We will also be unveiling the Audi TT Roadster before the year is out. The success of the current model range, to which we have only just added the new Audi TT Coupé, means that we are looking forward with great optimism to the end of the year,” added Weyler.

*) Figures in brackets are the corresponding prior-year figures, or rates of increase for 2006 compared with 2005