Audi Posts Positive 2009 Growth

Audi Australia has defied the fortunes of most luxury car marques in Australia, and posted a growth in sales.

Sales in January went up 5.5 percent, followed by another 5.4 percent in February, resulting in the German premium carmaker shifting almost 1900 vehicles this year.

These figures put Audi in the No. 2 position in Australia's premium market and, perhaps more importantly, the only brand showing positive growth. The result also means that Australia holds steady as the brand's top-selling market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Naturally, Audi plans to maintain the sales momentum the company has built on during the past four years.

“We are certainly proud to be growing steadily in a tough economic climate. We are in good shape, thanks to our clear strategic direction, competitive product, a strong dealer network who is willing to invest, and a hardworking team,” Audi Australia Managing Director Joerg Hofmann, said

“We are about the launch the new Audi Q5 compact SUV in Australia, and we expect this versatile and efficient vehicle to find favour with Australian buyers and support our growth. It is competitively-priced with two models below $60,000 and our 2.0 TDI Quattro is LCT exempt thanks to its low consumption of just 6.8 litres/100km.”

“The best news of all is that our growth is profitable and our dealer network is happy to invest in new facilities to support our growth. In fact this month alone we will officially open two brand-new facilities in North Queensland: Audi Centre Townsville and Sunshine Coast. These openings will be followed in August by the opening of our own $50 million Audi Lighthouse development on South Dowling Street at Victoria Park,” he said.

Good sales despite a prolonged period of economic uncertainty are probably the best way of celebrating the company's 100th year anniversary.