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Audi sets ME all-time sales record

Dubai, October 10, 2012

Automobile giant Audi is on the way to a new sales record for the Middle East in 2012, reporting solid growth for September, for the third quarter and for 2012 year-to-date overall, said a top official.

The sales for the first nine months increased by 18.3 per cent to 6,629 units compared to 5602 units in the same period last year. In the third quarter alone Audi delivered 2,355 vehicles to customers, up 12.5 per cent over last year, revealed Jeff Mannering, the managing director of Audi Middle East.

September, he said, was the highest ever recorded month with 902 units sold, breaking the 900 units barrier for the first time.

"The UAE was the most important Middle Eastern market in terms of volume for the brand with the four rings. A total of 2,747 units were sold 2012 year-to-date over 2,245 units last year, representing an increase of 12.2 per cent," he added.

Symbolic of the market’s potential, Al Nabooda Automobiles, official dealer for Dubai and the Northern Emirates, is set to open the world’s largest Audi showroom in Dubai in November.

While all GCC markets registered double-digit growth, Saudi and Kuwait were the most important markets after the UAE with sales of 1,420 and 948 units and growth of 36.1 and 29.7 percent respectively.

The near Eastern markets remained largely stable, apart from Syria, where sales have come to a halt, said Mannering.

"Sales were driven by the Audi C & D segment sedans and SUV models. Audi’s momentum benefitted strongly from robust demand for the technologically advanced Audi A6, generating a 70.3 per cent sales increase year-to-date.

"Audi’s flagship vehicle, the Audi A8 L sedan, has seen its sales up 32.3 per cent over last year, while Audi Q7 luxury SUV marginally slowed down to 1,137 units sold year-to-date," he added.

“We are on track for a record year in 2012 with the sales volumes across the GCC region increasing by 26.5 per cent to hit 6,629 units,” said Mannering.

“Several markets of the region were affected by political unrest, however, the larger countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi, are pulling ahead on the back of strong core models, new model launches and improved infrastructure in sales and after sales service,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service




Tags: UAE | Middle East | Saudi | Car | growth | Audi | Automobile |

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