Audi Middle East sold a total of 4,274 vehicles in the region in the first six months of 2012, marking an increase of 15 per cent over the same period in 2011 as well as setting a sales record for the first half of any year.

Sales for the month of June (691 vehicles) also achieved an all-time high with an increase of 18 per cent over 2011 (585 vehicles).

Sales in all Gulf markets grew in double digits. The strongest market for Audi remains the UAE with a total of 1,738 vehicles delivered to customers in the first half of 2012, registering a positive growth of 14 per cent.

The UAE is followed by Saudi Arabia with 915 units and a plus of 34 per cent and Kuwait with 571 vehicles sold and 24 per cent growth.

Audi executives expressed confidence that sales for all of 2012 will set a new annual record, topping the 7,865 sales mark set last year.

“We have welcomed the new Audi A4 PI, A5 PI and Audi Q3 in the first half. With the S models still to come we are expecting another strong result for 2012,” said Jeff Mannering, managing director, Audi Middle East.

“Our sales are underpinned by a strong focus on dealer network development as well sales and after sales service. Audi standards apply to the vehicle as well as to the entire ownership experience.”

Customers favoured the large sedan models, he added.

Year-to-date sales of the new Audi A6 ranked the highest with 908 vehicles sold and an increase of 81 per cent. Audi’s second strongest selling model was the Audi A8 L with 877 units sold in the first six months of 2012 (plus 43 per cent).

Audi’s luxury SUV performance was led by the Audi Q7 with 695 units sold in the first half, followed by the Audi Q5 with 610 units. Market availability for both models continues to be limited as demand exceeds production allocation.

Already 69 units of the newly launched Audi Q3 compact SUV have been sold across the region with sales volumes picking up further as shipments arrive to the markets, Audi said in a statement. – TradeArabia News Service