Audi A4 outsells BMW 3-Series in Germany
Click above for a hi-res gallery of our first drive in the new Audi A4
Luxury sports sedans are made all over the world, but nobody does 'em quite like the Germans. The BMW 3 Series has stood as the champion of the segment for decades, but not anymore. According to government records of new vehicle registration, the Audi A4 was the best-selling premium car, beating out the 3-Series, along with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
By the numbers, 98,714 A4's were sold in Germany over the course of 2008, making it the second most popular new car in Germany behind the Volkswagen Golf. But lest you think Germans are enamored only with Audi's new A4, which was introduced last year, the A6 and TT also topped their segments, contributing to the strongest growth (or weakest decline) in the German market and across Western Europe. The innovators in all-wheel traction and aluminum construction saw their entire market share rise last year by 0.8% to a total of 8.1% of the German new car market, details of which you can read in the press release after the jump.
Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Audi A4
[Source: Audi via AutoGuide.com]
PRESS RELEASE
Ingolstadt, 2009-01-16
AUDI AG: A4 is Germany's most successful premium model in 2008
* After VW Golf, Audi A4 most frequently bought car in Germany
* Audi A6 and Audi TT most successful models in their classes
* Audi is the premium brand in Germany and Western Europe experiencing the strongest growth
The latest vehicle registration numbers verify that the Audi A4 is Germany's most successful premium automobile. No other model in the premium segment surpassed the 98,714 A4 models registered last year. The Audi A6 also topped its segment with 45,304 registrations. The second generation of the Audi TT design icon was registered 10,630 times in Germany – making it the most successful sports car in Germany in 2008.
AUDI AG was able to expand its market share on the domestic German market to 8.1 percent – an increase of 0.8 percent. In Western Europe, Audi boosted its market share by 0.4 points to 4.8 percent: No other premium brand succeeded in strengthening its market position this significantly.
"Audi is presently experiencing stronger growth than any other premium brand in the region – and thanks to new models we will maintain this dynamism," says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. "In a difficult market environment, we want to further expand our market share in Germany and Western Europe."
The Audi A4 is presently undergoing further upgrading: The top versions of the model line – the S4 Sedan and Avant – are now arriving in Europe's showrooms. The new A4 Avant was just launched in April 2008. In addition to the fleet award from Auto-Flotte magazine, Audi's best-selling model has already won countless accolades and has beaten the competition in all relevant comparison tests.
The product improvement of the A6 was launched in September 2008. Also the winner of the fleet award in its class, today the A6 is Germany's most successful business sedan.
With the Audi TTS, the top version of the TT line, Audi introduced the first S model in this class. The Audi TT TDI debuted as the first production sports car powered by a diesel engine.
AUDI AG sold a total of 1,003,000 cars in 2008 and thus achieved its thirteenth consecutive record year. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Györ (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). Aurangabad in India saw the start of local production of the Audi A6 at the end of 2007 and of the Audi A4 in early October 2008. The company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide. AUDI AG's wholly owned subsidiaries include Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant'Agata Bolognese (Italy) and quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. Audi currently employs around 57,000 people worldwide, including 45,000 in Germany. The brand with the four rings invests more than €2 billion each year in order to sustain the company's technological lead embodied in its "Vorsprung durch Technik" slogan. Audi plans to significantly increase the number of models in its portfolio by 2015 to 40. The Audi brand celebrates its 100th birthday in 2009. The company was founded by August Horch in Zwickau on July 16, 1909; he named it Audi after the Latin translation of his surname ("hark!").
AUDI AG will present the complete results for the 2008 business year at its Annual Press Conference on March 10, 2009 in Ingolstadt.
Ingolstadt, 2009-01-16
AUDI AG: A4 is Germany's most successful premium model in 2008
* After VW Golf, Audi A4 most frequently bought car in Germany
* Audi A6 and Audi TT most successful models in their classes
* Audi is the premium brand in Germany and Western Europe experiencing the strongest growth
The latest vehicle registration numbers verify that the Audi A4 is Germany's most successful premium automobile. No other model in the premium segment surpassed the 98,714 A4 models registered last year. The Audi A6 also topped its segment with 45,304 registrations. The second generation of the Audi TT design icon was registered 10,630 times in Germany – making it the most successful sports car in Germany in 2008.
AUDI AG was able to expand its market share on the domestic German market to 8.1 percent – an increase of 0.8 percent. In Western Europe, Audi boosted its market share by 0.4 points to 4.8 percent: No other premium brand succeeded in strengthening its market position this significantly.
"Audi is presently experiencing stronger growth than any other premium brand in the region – and thanks to new models we will maintain this dynamism," says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. "In a difficult market environment, we want to further expand our market share in Germany and Western Europe."
The Audi A4 is presently undergoing further upgrading: The top versions of the model line – the S4 Sedan and Avant – are now arriving in Europe's showrooms. The new A4 Avant was just launched in April 2008. In addition to the fleet award from Auto-Flotte magazine, Audi's best-selling model has already won countless accolades and has beaten the competition in all relevant comparison tests.
The product improvement of the A6 was launched in September 2008. Also the winner of the fleet award in its class, today the A6 is Germany's most successful business sedan.
With the Audi TTS, the top version of the TT line, Audi introduced the first S model in this class. The Audi TT TDI debuted as the first production sports car powered by a diesel engine.
AUDI AG sold a total of 1,003,000 cars in 2008 and thus achieved its thirteenth consecutive record year. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Györ (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). Aurangabad in India saw the start of local production of the Audi A6 at the end of 2007 and of the Audi A4 in early October 2008. The company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide. AUDI AG's wholly owned subsidiaries include Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant'Agata Bolognese (Italy) and quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. Audi currently employs around 57,000 people worldwide, including 45,000 in Germany. The brand with the four rings invests more than €2 billion each year in order to sustain the company's technological lead embodied in its "Vorsprung durch Technik" slogan. Audi plans to significantly increase the number of models in its portfolio by 2015 to 40. The Audi brand celebrates its 100th birthday in 2009. The company was founded by August Horch in Zwickau on July 16, 1909; he named it Audi after the Latin translation of his surname ("hark!").
AUDI AG will present the complete results for the 2008 business year at its Annual Press Conference on March 10, 2009 in Ingolstadt.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Avinash machado 9:06AM (1/19/2009)
Maybe it is because of the image associated with BMW drivers nowadays.
Reply
Dondonel 12:19PM (1/19/2009)
But in the end who cares, most Audis and BMWs sold in Germany go to fleets, over 60%, there's nothing to brag about it.
Read this article here:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/12/fleet-sales-also-an-issue-abroad/
3seriesisking 12:23PM (1/19/2009)
Or maybe....just maybe...the new A4 is an outstanding car and deserves the honor...just maybe...
Emeka Diribe 12:38PM (1/19/2009)
I was at the Audi Driving Experience event at the California speedway. I could see why the Audi will outsell the BMW. I will take the A4 over the 3 series any day. The A4 is a more complete package and the A6? Shivers!!!
adhominem 6:18PM (1/20/2009)
Regarding the fleet sales: They are a very different thing in Germany. For tax reasons, most higher-paid employees get a company car as part of the package. They are quite different animals than your standard company fleet cars because the employees can actually choose very freely and spec the car as (s)he likes. A6, S5, M5 - all these are mostly sold as fleet cars in Germany, to give just a few examples.
AntBee 9:10AM (1/19/2009)
I can see why, the A4 is a better-looking automobile. Plus, BMWs are so common now, it's understandable that people would want something different.
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u9u900u0 9:11AM (1/19/2009)
So now the A-hole drivers are in audis. Brilliant.
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BigMcLargeHuge 12:02PM (1/19/2009)
The last 2 a-hole drivers in a row I've come across were G37S coupes.
Natural aspiration attracts pricks... ehem, I mean purists.
Thats why they are leaving BMW. Their sporty 3-series is turbocharged. I doubt the pricks in the US will go for A4s or S4s.
BigMcLargeHuge 12:24PM (1/19/2009)
And I say that as a person that likes Infiniti. It saddens me that I get tailgated by them.
I don't think everyone that drives an N/A high-revving manual RWD coupe is a prick.
Only the ones that claim it makes them a better driver... magically.... on their daily commute...
Thats the prick mantra, btw.
k.w.a 12:50PM (1/19/2009)
soooo true BigMc...
All the pricks drive Infiniti/Nissans now. The very few times I actually get tailgated is usually by morons in Maximas and G37s who try to weave through traffic and end up getting stuck just like everybody else.
Now, about the Audi I don't live in Germany so I don't know what they're like over there, but IMO they're a little boring. I'm more inspired by design than what's under the hood so maybe that's why. The new A4 doesn't look all that good to me.. especially with those wheels that are too small for the body
Rick 10:56AM (1/20/2009)
Have you ever met an Audi owner? I would not assume that the same type of individual that buys BMW would leave to the 'dark side'. So this is just a new wave of buyer that instead of going to BMW is looking at the Audi first. Those sweet interiors are a big win over BMWs and that could sway some as well. Then the quattro for snow, etc.
Tragedy 9:13AM (1/19/2009)
I guess they don't like well-made, reliable cars in Germany.
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Artemiy Pavlov 9:13AM (1/19/2009)
Well-deserved win for Audi! The new A4 is sold with a great package of standard equipment, unlike BMW for example where you have a pretty much empty car. This move paid them off very well. I am waiting for A1 impatiently, as well as for A4 allroad.
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iyyt76d657f879 9:16AM (1/19/2009)
The audi is NOT better looking! Its the most basic looking car around, it makes a corolla look exciting. They added some swiggly lines to the headlamps - Oooooo!
Audi hasn't known where to go next design-wise now for 15 years. At least BMW has taken a chance. They look modern and sculpted by comparison - like a piece of art next to the refridge-like A4.
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Quattroporte 9:48AM (1/19/2009)
It's clean and understated.
Randy915 7:57PM (1/19/2009)
...and classy.
jc 9:22AM (1/19/2009)
This is easy to understand.
Audis have more general/mass/generic/broad appeal (whatever the word) appeal.
Not everyone wants a snug, low slung,high performance car for their family.
I hope this survey doesn't temp BMW to water down their very successful formula in search of greater sales.
Reply
Mazda FTW! 11:39AM (1/19/2009)
"Audis have more general/mass/generic/broad appeal (whatever the word) appeal.
Not everyone wants a snug, low slung,high performance car for their family"
I'd say it's the other way around. BMWs are mass market and everyone has one while Audis are still relatively less in number (around the streets of Toronto anyway) and are snug, low-slung and have high-performance.
Cheese 9:22AM (1/19/2009)
I completely disagree with you there #6
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Kumar 9:29AM (1/19/2009)
Clearly it's my fellow Americans talking about the behavior of the driver in the high priced cars. Simply forgetting a few things.
- Our driver education compared to Germany is like public schools versus private schools stateside.
- The 'luxury brands' sell base models overseas with configurations we'll never see, since they don't want to 'tarnish the brand' in the US with lower priced more sensible models.
I'd be interested to see the most popular setups for most of these cars, as they'd probably be less-luxury than most of the Audis and BMWs we see on US streets.
Reply