Volkswagen's Audi Reports Record Sales for 2010 U.S. and World Wide Deliveries
By Andreas Cremer - Jan 7, 2011 5:11 AM ET
Volkswagen AG’s Audi luxury division reported record global deliveries for 2010, powered by the highest-ever sales in China and the U.S.
Audi sold 1.09 million cars and sport-utility vehicles last year, an increase of 15 percent from 2009, the company said today in a statement. December deliveries of models including the A1 compact and A7 coupe rose 12 percent to 88,500 units.
“We set a historic sales record in the U.S. market while achieving the best earnings in a long time,” sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said in the statement.
Audi, based in Ingolstadt, Germany, has a goal of dethroning Bayerische Motoren Werke AG as the world’s largest maker of luxury cars by 2015. Audi sold 227,938 cars and SUVs in China last year, a 43 percent gain, while U.S. deliveries rose 23 percent to 101,629 units.
The manufacturer intends to invest 11.6 billion euros ($15.1 billion) worldwide outside China on new products, plants and technologies over the next five years. Volkswagen’s Chinese joint ventures will spend 10.6 billion euros in the world’s biggest auto market through 2015.
Chief Financial Officer Axel Strotbek said Dec. 13. That the booming Chinese market, where Audi is the leading seller of premium vehicles, will help boost global sales to another record this year.
Audi is most improved brand in customer loyalty
· Audi receives 2010 “Most Improved Loyalty to Make” award from R.L. Polk
Audi recorded a 4.9% increase in consumer loyalty during 2009 model year
HERNDON, Va., January 14, 2010 – More than ever, establishing a consumer relationship that endures beyond a single vehicle is crucial. When it comes to lasting loyalty, Audi made greatest strides in 2009, earning recognition Tuesday night as the R.L. Polk & Co. “Most Improved Loyalty to Make” award winner during the 14th Annual Automotive Loyalty Awards in Detroit.
Introduced into the Automotive Loyalty Awards this year, the “Most Improved Loyalty to Make” award honors the automotive brand that garnered the greatest percentage point improvement in consumer loyalty over the course of 2009. With a 4.9% growth in this area, Audi surpassed all other brands in the market.
“Earning the long-term affinity of consumers is the ultimate benchmark of success,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “While attracting interest is always vital, maintaining that bond and translating it to repeat sales is an exceptional victory. The recognition by R.L. Polk validates the work of the Audi employees and dealers in creating this lasting bond.”
The Polk Automotive Loyalty Award is based on actual model-year purchase/lease activity and recognizes manufacturers for superior performance in customer retention—a critical aspect of building and maintaining market share. Customers of these manufacturers had such a positive overall experience that they came back to buy another vehicle of the same model, make, or manufacturer.
For this year’s “Most Improved Loyalty to Make” award, Audi received top honors after sales figures confirmed the highest industry wide percentage of this pattern occurring among Audi owners.
“After 14 years of honoring automakers for successes in customer loyalty, we added the “Most Improved Loyalty to Make” award for model year 2009 because we felt that brands able to make significant strides in this regard deserved recognition,” said Stephen Polk, chairman, president and CEO of Polk. “This is not an easy task to accomplish, which speaks volumes about the momentum that Audi has acquired in recent years.”
ABOUT AUDI
Audi of America Inc. and its 270 dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. The Audi lineup is one of the freshest in the industry with 23 models, including 12 models launched during model years 2008 and 2009. Audi is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. In selling one million vehicles worldwide in 2008, AUDI AG recorded its 13th consecutive record year for sales growth.
