Autoblog

Audi A8 a hot seller out of the gates, nearly 60% boost in production planned

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Audi

Audi has a hot seller on its hands. If we forced you to guess which model (and didn't let you read the title of this post), you might assume that we'd be talking about the A6 or even the Q5. Nope. The four-ringed automaker is watching its all-new 2011 A8 flagship sedan doing its best impression of hot cakes.

In fact, the stylish luxo-barge is selling so well that it's required Audi to hire more plant workers. According to Automotive News, Audi is boosting production of the A8 by 57 percent, and it needs more hands on deck to help keep the lines moving at the automaker's Neckarsulm, Germany assembly plant. The A8 still has a ways to go in matching its German luxury brethren for global volume, but the new model appears to be on the right track.

Audi A8 a hot seller out of the gates, nearly 60% boost in production planned originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW leads global sales race among luxury brands through July, Audi second

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

BMW is apparently the Ultimate Selling Machine. The German automaker has retained the title of top luxury brand after its most successful July in history, moving 108,721 units for the month. Overall sales are up 17.9 percent for the entire BMW Group through the first seven months of the year.

One of the BMW products moving off lots quickly is the redesigned X3. Sales of the compact crossover rose 193.2 percent, which equates to 9,763 units finding a new home in July. The X5 also helped total volume numbers by improving 51.7 percent in July, with 24,196 examples sold.

With 106,000 total sales in July, Audi isn't very far behind, and it hopes to stand in the top spot ahead of BMW by 2015. BMW is aiming for 1.6 million in sales this year, while Audi is shooting for 1.2 million. Mercedes-Benz came in at number three with 100,391 units sold in July.

BMW leads global sales race among luxury brands through July, Audi second originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi still supply constrained on many models; making huge inroads into CA

Chris Shunk — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Audi, Luxury

2012 Audi A6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

When is success a bad thing? If you're Audi, it's when you can't get adequate quantities of new vehicles to U.S. dealerships. Wards Automotive talked supply and demand with Audi of America president Johan de Nysschen, and it's apparently very difficult to keep Audi dealers stocked. The Audi prez says the luxury brand is down to a 27-day supply of vehicles, adding, "We simply can't get our inventory up to a 60-day supply."

But while a short supply of new vehicles typically signals strong demand and minimizes incentives, Audi is faced with a custom order rate that is up to 31 percent. When you are maxed out at factories in Europe and there is that whole matter of shipping the vehicle across an ocean, an order can take months. And if customers face a long wait for what can sometimes be an emotion-driven buying decision, not everybody can be so patient, and Audi risks losing sales as a result. The waiting game hasn't stopped Audi from turning up the heat in California, though, as the Four-Ringed Automaker's sales have jumped from 3.5 percent to 10 percent market share.

Beyond supply issues, the German automaker is also struggling to push higher-end products, as de Nysschen says the volume products are the A4 and Q5. Only 15 percent of overall sales come from the A6, a number Audi hopes to stretch to 55 percent. The automaker is hoping the A7 helps solve that problem as well, along with a high mix of diesel-powered Q7 SUVs.

Gallery: 2012 Audi A6: Detroit 2011

[Source: Wards Automotive]

Audi still supply constrained on many models; making huge inroads into CA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

As Audi plants struggle to meet demand, buyers wait months for cars

Chris Shunk — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 17:03:00 EST

Filed under: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz

2012 Audi A6 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The Volkswagen Group wants to be number one in global sales, luxury sales and, hopefully, profits. In order to reach the auto sales zenith, however, Volkswagen may need to make room for more Audi production.

Bloomberg reports that Audi is struggling to meet demand for the A3 and A6, with buyers waiting three to four months to take delivery of those models. Audi sales boss Peter Schwarzenbauer tells Bloomberg that its factories are running at full throttle and that if sales continue to grow it will be "difficult to say how long it could take to reduce waiting times."

So why aren't car buyers leaving Audi for the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz? The line for Germany's other luxury makes can be just as long. All three automakers reported record sales in January, and that's with buyers waiting up to six months for hot new vehicles like the new BMW X3. While all three German luxury struggle to keep pace with demand, experts say Audi is in the toughest spot, with wait times up to two months longer than its competitors.

Will the Volkswagen Group address the problem in a timely manner? Since Audi reportedly contributed 47 percent of VW's overall profits for the past nine months, execs should be eager to take care of their cash cow.

Gallery: 2012 Audi A6: Detroit 2011

[Source: Bloomberg]

As Audi plants struggle to meet demand, buyers wait months for cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi hits one million sales in China

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, China, Plants/Manufacturing, Audi

Audi has been producing vehicles in the Chinese market since 1988. Fast-forward 22 years into the future and Audi has just sold its one millionth vehicle in China. If you're curious, that one millionth vehicle is a metallic blue Audi Q5.

Audi began its Chinese production with the Audi 100, which was assembled in China from imported knock-down kits. Since the initial agreement signed back in '88, the Changchun assembly plant began doling out Four-Ringed vehicles to an eager market. Of the one million vehicles, 950,000 were produced in Changchun while 50,000 were imported than assembled there. The factory moved on from the Audi 100 and later the Audi 200, and it now produces the altogether modern Q5, A6L and the A4L.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi hits one million sales in China

Audi hits one million sales in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi sells two millionth vehicle in the States

Zach Bowman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Audi, Luxury

In the grand scale of automotive existence, Audi hasn't been selling vehicles in the U.S. for that long. The company first landed on our shores in 1970 with the introduction of cars like the Super 90 and 100, which means that chances are some of you out there have socks older than Audi USA. Flash forward 40 years to present day, and the company is celebrating its 2 millionth vehicle sold in the United States. The lucky car just happened to be a new A3 TDI - a fine choice if we do say so ourselves - and was sold through Keyes Audi in Van Nuys, California.

Audi is predicting that it will take considerably less time to hit the 3 millionth vehicle sold mark, and we're inclined to agree with them. The company says that since 2000, it has doubled its model count here in the land of freedom fries - a trick that's helped to make Audi a legitimate alternative to the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the hearts and minds of American buyers. Hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi sells two millionth vehicle in the States

Audi sells two millionth vehicle in the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Podcast #174 - AOL Autos' Reilly Brennan stops by

Dan Roth — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:21:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Ferrari

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth are joined by Reilly Brennan of AOL Autos. After discussing what's in the Autoblog Garage, attention turns to the Ferrari 599 GTO, the ongoing Chevrolet Camaro-Ford Mustang V6 cage match, wacky interior awards from Ward's Auto, Audi beating Mercedes in the most recent sales numbers, and the Daimler-Renault/Nissan tie-up. We hit some questions and then skedaddle just under the hour and twenty mark.

Autoblog Podcast #174: with Reilly Brennan from AOL Autos

In the Autoblog Garage:

Audi A4 Avant
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Mini John Cooper Works Cabrio
Ford Escape Hybrid
Mercedes CL550 4Matic

News:

Ferrari 599 GTO
Mustang/Camaro V6 smackdown
Ward's Auto interior awards
Audi outsells Mercedes
Daimler and Renault/Nissan deal

Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert, Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid

Guest:
Reilly Brennan of AOL Autos

Runtime: 1:18:02

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #174 - AOL Autos' Reilly Brennan stops by originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Audi may have passed Mercedes in Q1 global sales, but BMW is still #1

Chris Shunk — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz

2010 BMW 750i - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi outsold Mercedes Benz globally in the first quarter of 2010; a big deal considering it was the first time the four-ringed automaker had ever accomplished such a feat. But while Audi was finally able to pass its crosstown rival in sales, the German automaker is still longing for the title of the top luxury brand in the land.

Automotive News reports that BMW announced final Q1 sales of 265,809 vehicles, besting Audi by an anorexic 1,709 units for the three month period. BMW saw a global sales increase of 14 percent compared to the same period of 2009, buoyed by strong sales of its new X1 crossover and a 56 percent increase in 7 Series sales. BMW sales boss Ian Robertson said in a statement that the company intends to improve sales across the globe, adding, "We are back on our growth track in nearly all the automobile markets." And BMW isn't just hoping the market improves - the automaker is counting on an increase in sales courtesy of its new 5 Series lineup, which was launched overseas last month and arrives in the U.S. in June. BMW also has a refreshed 3 Series coupe and convertible on the way as well. With single digit growth, BMW intends to sell 1.3 million vehicles in 2010.

But while BMW pulled out the slimmest of victories in Q1, we're thinking Audi's performance during the first three months effectively puts its German competitors on notice. With a very good product lineup and a considerable foothold in China, Audi may well achieve its goal of becoming the largest luxury car maker on earth by 2015 a lot earlier than most people expected.

Gallery: Review: 2009 BMW 750i

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Report: Audi may have passed Mercedes in Q1 global sales, but BMW is still #1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Audi U.S. sales suffering due to supply shortage

Chris Shunk — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:19:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Audi

Audi Q5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

There are good problems and there are bad problems. Audi dealers across the U.S. are having trouble selling vehicles, but not because of uncompetitive product or industry-wide sales woes. Automotive News reports the reason for Audi's sales troubles have everything to do with a supply shortage that stems from strong first quarter sales. Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen reportedly told AN that U.S. dealers are "short of everything," with Q5 and Q7 supplies running especially low.

Last year, Audi cut U.S. deliveries by 6,000 units due to weak sales here in the States, but the German luxury automaker saw brisk sales in December followed by a first quarter that bested the first three months of 2009 by 35 percent. Audi now has a 29 day supply of product for U.S. dealers; about half the typical 60 day reserve and a third of the 88 day supply of March, 2009. De Nysschen says Audi has allotted an additional 3,000 vehicles to the U.S. for 2010, which should help dealers a bit. That said, we're thinking Audi isn't looking to beef up inventories too much considering the fact that the Four-Ringed automaker managed to keep incentives in check at a time when other automakers are dumping truckloads of cash on the hood to boost their sales.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Audi Q5

Photos by Dan Roth / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Audi U.S. sales suffering due to supply shortage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Audi outsells Mercedes-Benz globally for first time in Q1 2010

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: China, Audi, Mercedes-Benz

For the first time ever, Audi has managed to outsell Mercedes-Benz in global sales for the first quarter of 2010. Some of the European press are treating it like the fourth horseman of the apocalypse, but before we break out our Mayan calendars and go all 2012 on you, here are the hard numbers: Audi sold 264,100 vehicles worldwide between January and March while Mercedes sold 248,500 units over the same time period. For what it's worth, BMW has yet to release its final first-quarter sales figures.

Audi has repeatedly signaled its desire and intent to become the world's leading luxury car brand by 2015, which would mean passing both of its German rivals, the aforementioned Mercedes-Benz and BMW, along with Japanese automaker Lexus. Plus, Audi offers a pretty compelling lineup of vehicles with which to do battle with those formidable competitors.

According to Autocar, the biggest single contributor to Audi's passing of Mercedes-Benz is the Chinese market, where Audi sells twice as many vehicles per year as Mercedes-Benz. In fact, one out of every five Audis built is sold in China. Considering how rapidly the Chinese market is expanding, Audi is certainly finding itself in an enviable position. Time will tell if it's able to maintain that growth in the face of constant pressure from its German and Japanese rivals.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Audi outsells Mercedes-Benz globally for first time in Q1 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

One million Audi fans can't be wrong

Noah Joseph — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Audi

2008 was a tough year, but apparently it wasn't equally as tough for everybody. Audi has now reported that it broke through the 1 million unit mark last year, selling more vehicles than it ever has before.

Total global sales in 2008 came to 1,003,400 vehicles - up 4.3% over last year - including 82,000 units in December. But while the American market has typically been a vital region for European premium marques especially, U.S. sales dropped 6.1% for Audi this year, and nearly 10% in December when U.S. sales accounted for less than 10% of the company's global sales. Ingolstadt attributes its sales success to the dozen new models it introduced last year, including the Q5 and A4 (seen above). Thanks to everyone who sent in the tip, and check out the press release after the jump.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading One million Audi fans can't be wrong

One million Audi fans can't be wrong originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Despite strong growth, Audi plans to slow production

Chris Shunk — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Audi

Audi is taking a cautious approach to the market as sales grind down around the world. To do that, the four-ringed automaker plans to extend its Christmas shutdown, a funny way to celebrate Audi's best global sales year ever, anticipated to crest one million units.

While the luxury competition has struggled in the rough and tumble US market, Audi has seen sales gains, which is a big reason global sales are up 3.3% year over year. Audi has been so successful of late that it came within 100 units of (the much larger) Mercedes-Benz in global October sales, while BMW is also within 10,000 units. The new A4 sedan and wagon are helping matters, and the upcoming Q5 crossover is waiting in the wings to keep things interesting in 2009.

With all that good news, why cut back production? Audi Chief Executive Rupert Stadler called the German automaker's performance "increasingly influenced by declining markets." In other words, Audi wants to approach the global sales decline with the novel notion of cutting production before cars start sitting on dealer lots for months on end. Makes perfect sense to us.

[Source: Reuters]

Despite strong growth, Audi plans to slow production originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi tells dealers "Either get in or get out"

Chris Tutor — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:03:00 EST

Filed under: Audi

Audi's US sales have done quite well lately, with a 7% rise in August, and 6% in July. But successful companies know complacency does not foster greater success. So Audi has had a little talk with some of its less-than-stellar Stateside dealers.

Basically, the German automaker has told underperformers they either need to invest in their franchises to improve sales and customer satisfaction, or sell them back. According to Automotive News, Audi has already identified six specific dealers that fall into this unfavorable category, and is even in final buyback talks with two of them.

An Audi spokesperson told Automotive News that most of the weak businesses also sell brands other than Audi. That's why the company is urging dealers to build stand-alone Audi dealerships, with a goal of 150 independent Audi sales locations by 2012. The push for more stores includes a new flagship store in New York with another high-volume location in Los Angeles.

An incentive program encourages independent Audi dealers by paying them a 16% bonus for every vehicle sold, while multi-brand dealers get as little as 7%.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd.]

Audi tells dealers "Either get in or get out" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments