1st half of 2007 strongest since market entry. Q7 SUV and upcoming R8 further push brands desirability
Audi Middle East reported a sales growth of 31.4% across the Middle Eastern markets equalling a total of 3,223 units in the first half of the year, from January to June 2007 (2006: 2452). With a total of over a third of sales; the UAE remains the strongest market followed by Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Syria. The Audi Q7, first introduced in mid 2006, claimed the title of strongest selling product (1212 units) with the rest of the sales spread evenly across the saloon segments.
The sports car segment experienced a surge after the market introduction of the new generation Audi TT in April. The orders for the Audi R8 mid-engine sports car, which is due to arrive in September, have already exceeded the allocation by at least double. Whilst production capacity at the Neckarsulm factory has been increased to maximum speed, the car that is largely assembled by hand will remain very exclusive.
Apart from the new product line-up, the premium car manufacturer attributes its success in the region to an increased focus on its After Sales infrastructure. Ernst Hasbach, Managing Director of Audi Middle East, comments: "Audi Middle East has put a lot of effort into the growth of the Audi brand in the past two years, in both sales and service. We are happy to see that we can parallel the worldwide success of our mother company AUDI AG within the region."
Among the many new innovations introduced by Audi Middle East After Sales are the 10,000 sqm regional Parts Centre located in Dubai Jebel Ali Free Zone, which allows a delivery of 90% of parts demand in one to three days, and the regional Training Centre, which has conducted 48 technical and non-technical After Sales training courses this year alone. The success of these measures is continuously monitored through several survey systems.
-Ends-
About Audi
Audi is a car manufacturer rich in tradition. The four rings symbolise the fusion of Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer in 1932. Today, Audi is one of the three big German automotive manufacturers in the premium segment. AUDI AG employs more than 50,000 people and delivered around 905,100 Audi vehicles to customers in 2006.
As a global developer and manufacturer of high-quality cars and engines, Audi has major production sites in Germany, Hungary, Brazil and China.
The current model range comprises the A3, A3 Sportback, A4 Saloon and Cabriolet, S4 Saloon, and Cabriolet, RS 4 Saloon and Cabriolet, A6 and S6, TT Coupe and Roadster, the A8, S8 and the Q7.
For more information please contact:
Karin Haferkorn
Audi Middle East Communication
Tel. +971 42045 888
Fax: +971 4 2045 891
email: karin.haferkorn@audi.avme.ae
Nick Wheywell
Perspective Public Relations
Tel: +971 4 364 2414
Mob: +971 50 655 8682
Fax: +971 4 369 7635
email: nick@perspectivepr-me.com
© Press Release 2007
