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<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">With worldwide sales of 152,850 cars, Audi had a great April.</span></p>
<p>That figure beat out BMW's 148,896 and Mercedes' 148,072 cars sold.&#xa0;</p>
<p>Audi's impressive numbers come as the company is in the middle of revamping its lineup of cars.</p>
<p><span>"Audi remains on course and posted a solid sales performance in April," Audi sales boss&#xa0;<span>Luca de Meo said.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>"Despite the upcoming generation changes in key model families and sales markets we have surpassed the record figures of the previous year."&#xa0;</span></span></span></p>
<p><span>Much of Audi's April sales strength comes from its solid performance in Europe&#xa0;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">and its dominance in the Chinese market. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In fact, Europe and the Middle Kingdom accounted for almost 77% of Audi's global sales last month.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Although Audi had a great April, overall for 2015, BMW is still at the top of the leaderboard with 600,473 car sold worldwide.&#xa0;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Audi has sold 591,050 vehicles.&#xa0;</span></p>
<p>In the US, however, Audi is still lagging its German competitors. With a few extra decades of brand loyalty and brand equity than Audi, BMW and Mercedes are able to maintain a significant sales lead over the guys from Ingolstadt.&#xa0;</p>
<p>In April, Mercedes sold 31,952 cars, while BMW moved 26,952 vehicles. Audi sold just 16,827 cars.&#xa0;<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">For the year, Mercedes is at the head of the line, as well, with 115,667 cars sold while BMW has shifted an impressive 105,444 units of the "ultimate driving machine." Audi has sold <span>56,925</span>&#xa0;cars in the US.&#xa0;</span></p>
<p>Audi's brand has grown tremendously over the past decade. Globally, it's proving that it can hang with its German rivals. But in the US, it still has some work to do.</p>

Audi's coming on strong, but all is not perfect

Audi will launch R8, A8 and Q8 in India between July to September-- despite two painful years ahead

<ul><li><keyword id="148913" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Audi-India">Audi India</keyword> has announced a major management rejig.</li><li><keyword id="6363321" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="audi">Audi</keyword> India’s current head <keyword id="3965053" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="rahil-ansari">Rahil Ansari</keyword> is joining the global headquarters as Senior Director, Central Sales Controlling (Global).</li><li><keyword id="1616777" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Balbir-Singh-Dhillon">Balbir Singh Dhillon</keyword> is the new Audi India head. </li></ul>Audi India has announced that its current India Head Rahil Ansari will be moving to the global headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany. He will take over as the Senior Director for Central Sales Controlling (Global).<br /><br />Balbir Singh Dhillon, who is currently the head of Dealer Development in Audi, will take on the role of India Head by September 2019. <br /><br />“Rahil’s strong business acumen has been highly acknowledged in the headquarters, which is why he has been offered such a senior position,” said Michael Frisch, Vice President Region Overseas AUDI AG. Ansari has been with Audi since February 2017.<br /><br />
    
    <div type="Video" msid="69519963" hostid="261" title="Audi will launch R8, A8 and Q8 in India between July to September-- despite two painful years ahead" thumbUrl="https://denmark.timesinternet.in/cmslite/api/app/images.jpg?msid=69519963"></div>





<br />Meanwhile, Dhillon is currently enjoying his second stint at Audi India. He was earlier the head of Sales Field Force between 2007-2012, and rejoined the company in 2018.<br /><br />Dhillon will be taking over during tough times. The Indian <keyword id="34478" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="auto-industry">auto industry</keyword> is witnessing a massive sales slowdown and Audi India is not immune to the trend. In 2018, the company <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Industry/5ZXcY4CoCDufP6iNx2Ms0M/Audi-India-sales-decline-18-to-6463-units-in-2018.html">reported an 18% </a>decline in sales, as its largest dealership in Delhi-NCR was shut down. <br /><br />However, the company is now counting on India’s Electric Vehicle push to regain ground. Audi India <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/car-news/audi-e-tron-to-be-launched-in-india-later-this-year-200-units-expected-to-be-sold/1623796/">confirmed </a>that its e-tron SUV will soon be launched in India, and is expecting to sell over 200 units. <br /><br />“My singular focus will be on taking Audi ahead in a sustainable and profitable manner with delight for all our stakeholders in addition to customers. I look forward to build on that foundation as we move towards an era of electrification and digitalisation in India,” said Dhillon in a statement. <br />

Audi has a new India head who will lead it in the ‘era of electric vehicles’

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Audi increased sales of luxury cars 11 percent in November to 146,250 vehicles, its best-ever result for that month, bolstered by double-digit growth in the United States and China.</p>
<p>Deliveries in the January-to-November period were up 10 percent to 1.59 million autos, already beating last year's record 1.58 million in sales, Ingolstadt-based Audi said on Tuesday.</p>
<p>German rival Mercedes-Benz posted a 13 percent gain in November sales to a record 150,742 cars, extending the year-to-date increase to 12 percent or 1.49 million.</p>
<p>Audi's success contrasts with the struggles of parent company Volkswagen, which has been challenged in recent year to develop the right mix of cars and trucks in the U.S. </p>
<p>Volkswagen has the goal of matching the success of General Motors and Toyota globally, but in the U.S. the carmaker has modest market share and isn't selling the big trucks and SUVs that are now popular with American buyers.</p>
<p>(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Jonathan Gould)</p>

Audi Sales Are Absolutely Killing It

Luxury carmaker <keyword id="6363321" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="audi" source="Orion">Audi</keyword> <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> on Tuesday said its sales witnessed over two-fold jump at 1,950 units in the January-March <keyword id="15308631" type="TOPIC" weightage="60" keywordseo="Quarter" source="TOPIC" sourcekeytype="equity,investopedia" meta.keywordsubtype="null" meta.msid="92652086" meta.seopath="q/quarter" meta.entityname="Quarter" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="quarter">quarter</keyword> this year as compared with the same period last year. The company had sold 862 units in the first quarter of 2022. <br /><br /> "Our <keyword id="15330375" type="TOPIC" weightage="60" keywordseo="Product" source="TOPIC" sourcekeytype="marketing,investopedia" meta.keywordsubtype="null" meta.seopath="p/product" meta.entityname="Product" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="product">product</keyword> line-up boasts of sixteen models and we currently have the strongest ever SUV <keyword id="15309292" type="TOPIC" weightage="60" keywordseo="Portfolio" source="TOPIC" sourcekeytype="equity,investopedia" meta.keywordsubtype="null" meta.seopath="p/portfolio" meta.entityname="Portfolio" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="portfolio">portfolio</keyword> contributing to over 60 per cent of our total sales," Audi India head Balbir Singh Dhillon said in a statement. <br /><br /> The newly launched Q3 and Q3 Sportback are witnessing strong <keyword id="15308237" type="TOPIC" weightage="60" keywordseo="Demand" source="TOPIC" sourcekeytype="economy,investopedia" meta.keywordsubtype="null" meta.msid="92562122" meta.seopath="d/demand" meta.entityname="Demand" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="demand">demand</keyword> from across the country, he added. <br /><br /> "We are on a growth path and are confident of a bullish performance through the year 2023," Dhillon noted. <br /><br /> The company said it also continues the expansion of its pre-owned car business, Audi Approved: plus, in India. <br /><br /> Currently operating with twentytwo outlets across all major hubs in the country, the brand is rapidly expanding and will have twentyfive-plus pre-owned car facilities by the end of the year, it added. <br /><br /> Audi sells A4, A6, A8 L, Q3, Q3 Sportback, Q5, Q7, Q8, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback, RS Q8, e-tron 50, e-tron 55, e-tron Sportback 55, e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT in the Indian market.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/youtube-announces-new-policies-on-eating-disorder-content/articleshow/99607321.cms">YouTube announces new policies on eating disorder content</a><br /></strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/demat-account-additions-slow-as-markets-languish-upstox-icici-securities-5paisa-capital-lose-market-share/articleshow/99607157.cms"><strong>Demat account additions slow as markets languish; Upstox, ICICI Securities, 5Paisa Capital lose market share</strong></a><br />

Audi India reports over two-fold jump in sales in January-March quarter

<span><keyword id="25952" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mercedes-Benz">Mercedes-Benz</keyword> plans to sell more compact cars to tap the fastest growing part of India's premium car market, a move analysts say could help the German automaker overtake rival <keyword id="6363321" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Audi">Audi</keyword> as the country's top luxury car seller.</span>
<p>
	Mercedes launched on Wednesday a refreshed version of its entry-level, compact car -- the B-Class -- and it plans to increase sales of such models by 50 percent this year. Compact cars made up a fifth of Mercedes' total sales in 2014.</p>
<p> The share of compact cars in India's luxury market is expected to rise to 50 percent by 2022 from about 25 percent now, according Delhi-based Emerging <keyword id="2761928" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Markets-Automotive-Advisors">Markets Automotive Advisors</keyword> (<keyword id="2351057" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="EMMAAA">EMMAAA</keyword>).</p>
<p> Part of <keyword id="128620" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Daimler-AG">Daimler AG</keyword>, Mercedes is closing the gap with Volkswagen-owned Audi. Last year it sold 10,201 cars in India, just 650 fewer than Audi.</p>
<p> "What has helped (Mercedes grow) is the launch of new products at the bottom of the pyramid, and that is where customers are going to enter the segment in the future," said EMMAAA <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Director">director</keyword> <keyword id="234942" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Deepesh-Rathore">Deepesh Rathore</keyword>.</p>
<p>
	"This is probably the year when Mercedes would be able to overtake Audi."</p>
<p>
	GRAPHIC: German luxury car sales in India:<a href="http://link.reuters.com/nym34w">link.reuters.com/nym34w</a></p>

<p>
	Mercedes plans to launch 15 models this year -- its most ever in India in a year -- and open 15 dealerships. It has also invested 10 billion rupees ($159 million) in doubling local production capacity to 20,000 vehicles a year.</p>
<p>
	Among new launches is the CLA, its cheapest compact sedan unveiled in January to rival Audi's A3 launched last year.</p>
<p> Last September, Mercedes launched the GLA, a compact luxury crossover pitted against Audi's Q3 sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and <keyword id="6355119" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="BMW">BMW</keyword>'s X1 compact car.</p>
<p> "We are on full speed, we have our foot on the throttle," said <keyword id="1406117" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Eberhard-Kern">Eberhard Kern</keyword>, <keyword id="24973" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="managing-director">managing director</keyword> of Mercedes-Benz India, adding sales in January and February were already 25 percent higher than the same period last year.</p>
<p>
	Audi plans to launch 10 models in 2015, including a refreshed model of its Q3 compact SUV and the TT Coupe.</p>
<p>
	In 2013, Audi toppled BMW as India's top-selling luxury carmaker mainly because of strong sales of the Q3, as well as the A4 and A6 sedans.</p>
<p> Its A3 compact sedan, launched last year, is expected to keep growing, Joe <keyword id="28161" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="king">King</keyword>, <keyword id="6411847" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="head">head</keyword> of the carmaker's India unit said.</p>
<p> "Audi has always been very aggressive but given Mercedes' focus on compact cars, it is on the right track to give Audi a tough fight," said Puneet Gupta, senior associate at <keyword id="17182" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Consultant">consultant</keyword> IHS Automotive.</p>

Auto: This is why you will see more Mercedes on Indian roads, than other luxury cars

New Delhi, Dec 29 () German automobile company Audi expects Indian luxury car market to remain flat next year and growth to come in only in 2021, having gone through a challenging 2019.
<p>The company, which is set to kick off 2020 with the launch of its flagship SUV Q8 in January followed by new version of A8 sedan in February, is cautiously optimistic about the year that will mark the transition to stricter emission norm BS-VI.
</p><p>"In terms of growth estimates for the luxury car market, we estimate it to remain flat in 2020 and we are hopeful of positive growth starting 2021," Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon said.
</p><p>Indian luxury car market, comprising top five players -- Mercedes, BMW, Audi, JLR and Volvo, witnessed a total sales of 40,340 units in 2018 and is expected to see a decline in 2019. The companies are, however, yet to release their up to date sales data.
</p><p>"2019 was a challenging year for the automotive industry, thereby building the pressure on new car sales," Dhillon said.
</p><p>The company has launched Audi A4 Quick-lift, Audi Q7 Black-edition and all-new Audi A6 this year.
</p><p>Apart from the current situation of the economy affecting consumer sentiments, car makers are cautious about the impact of increased prices due to transition to BS-VI from BS-IV.
</p><p>"Effective April 1, 2020 India will take a leap into BS-VI from BS-IV at present, driving all manufacturers to make adjustments to their product offerings in India and so will we," he said about the challenge.
</p><p>Reiterating that 2020 is an important year for Audi, Dhillon said,"We remain focused on the India market. Under our 'Strategy 2025' goals, we will remain focused on customer centricity and network sustainability".
</p>Expressing optimism about 2020, he said Audi "will kick start the year with the launch of the Audi Q8 in January followed by the Audi A8 in February and other new products that will set the tone for the year."  RKL  BAL

Indian luxury car market to be flat in 2020, growth to return in 2021: Audi

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mercedes-AMG</span></p><p class="caption">2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Mercedes-Benz is having a very solid year. Even though growth so far this year is flat, the three-pointed star is still setting the pace for the luxury car sales in the US.</p><p>For the month of July, Mercedes-Benz's US operation set a new company record with 28,523 cars sold - an increase of 3.6% over the same period last year.</p><p>As result, Mercedes is leading the way in sales among the group of companies considered to be "tier one" luxury brands. It's a star-studded group which also includes BMW, Lexus, and the new-comer to the group - Audi.</p><p><span>"We are continuing to see strong momentum build into the third quarter, fueled by the recent launch of three of our dream cars," MBUSA president and CEO Dietmar Exler said in a statement. "The S-Class Cabriolet, SL and SLC Roadsters, teamed with strong momentum for the all-new E-Class helped us set a new record for July."</span></p><p><span>What is interesting is that Mercedes is leading the way by selling a ton of cars in a market that craves crossovers and SUVs. </span></p><p><span>So far this year, MBUSA's best selling model is the C-Class with almost 44,000 cars sold, while its third best selling model is the E-Class with nearly 28,000 in sales. That doesn't mean the company's SUVs aren't selling. In fact, they are selling very well. </span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p><p class="caption">Mercedes-Benz GLC.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Mercedes' lineup of SUVs consisting of the GLC, GLE, and GLS are either performing on par with or out selling its rivals from BMW and Audi.</span></p><p><span>Of the "tier one" luxury brands, only Lexus sells more SUVs that Mercedes. After all, the Lexus RX is the king of luxury crossover SUV.</span></p><p><span>Finishing second in the sales race in July is Lexus with 27,890 cars sold - followed by BMW at 25,777 and Audi at 18,364.</span></p><p><span>So far this year, MBUSA has sold 191,300 cars. Here too, Mercedes has a lead over the roughly 179,000 cars Lexus and BMW have each sold. Even though Audi sales are up 3.6% through the first seven months of 2016, the VW Group brand sits in fourth place with 115,298 cars sold.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/malcolm-gladwell-revisionist-history-donate-princeton-vassar-bowdoin-tipping-point-outliers-blink-2016-7">MALCOLM GLADWELL: 'Anyone who gives a single dollar to Princeton has completely lost their mind'</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="tlNzV5NDE68LblejgkI-6sByYCuoiDZ7" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Mercedes is winning the luxury market with an unusual strategy

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Volkswagen and Audi will begin reporting US sales quarterly instead of by the month, both effective immediately.</li><li>While the first monthly reports of the year will come out in a few days, Volkswagen and Audi will hold out until April under their new quarterly systems. </li><li>The moves follow and industry trend begun by General Motors in 2018, which Porsche most recently joined last week. </li><li>Other automakers are likely to follow the trend, which an analyst said could lead to "less transparency" and "an information gap" in the auto industry. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>Volkswagen and Audi are moving to quarterly US sales reports in lieu of publishing the numbers by the month, joining an industry migration to publishing fewer reports throughout the year - even if that means less transparency about their performance. </p><p>Volkswagen <a href="https://media.vw.com/releases/1252">announced</a> the move on Thursday, just before the end January and the subsequent first monthly reports of the year. <a href="https://www.autonews.com/sales/vw-audi-join-move-quarterly-sales-reporting">Automotive News</a> reported Audi's switch to quarterly updates on the same day, meaning both Audi and Volkswagen will put out their first reports of the year in April instead of in a few days. The move mirrors a trend that started in 2018 and will likely spread across the rest of the industry, just as it did when automakers migrated from <a href="https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/02/15/Automakers-break-string-of-increased-sales/9876414133200/">10-day reports</a> to monthly ones in the 1990s.</p><p>Volkswagen's chief sales and marketing officer for the North American region, Werner Eichhorn, said in a statement that while the US car industry has "long seen itself in 30-day cycles," it's "hard to argue anymore that a monthly snapshot offers the most effective look at [the] business." The company believes quarterly reporting, Eichhorn said, will "provide a clearer, more consistent picture of brand and market performance."</p><p>Audi of America gave a similar spiel, with the company's president, Daniel Weissland, saying it's time for "a move that will provide a more transparent look at our business as we consider our long-term strategic goals."</p><p>"Increased consistency from quarterly reporting versus reporting on a shorter term strengthens our operations, which ultimately benefits our dealer partners and our customers," Weissland said. </p><p>Audi and Volkswagen are the latest automakers to join the movement to quarterly reports for US sales, <a href="https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2018/apr/0403-sales-advisory.html">begun in April 2018</a> by General Motors. The other two members of the Detroit Big Three, Fiat Chrysler and Ford, joined soon after, and Porsche <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/porsche-will-move-from-monthly-to-quarterly-sales-reports-2020-1">hopped on board</a> last week. (Porsche is part of the larger Volkswagen Group, as are the Volkswagen and Audi brands.) </p><p>All had similar reasoning, as if pulled from the same basket - Porsche said monthly reports "rarely capture the overall picture of how our business is developing," GM argued that they don't give "enough time to separate real sales trends from short-term fluctuations in a very dynamic, highly competitive market," Ford <a href="https://www.wardsauto.com/industry/ford-switching-quarterly-sales-reports-2018-sales-down-35">noted</a> the "volatility" in monthly numbers, and FCA said quarterly reports would "continue to provide transparency ... while at the same time aligning with where industry practice is heading." </p><p>But an Autotrader executive analyst, Michelle Krebs, told <a href="https://www.autonews.com/article/20180409/RETAIL01/180409728/will-quarterly-sales-reports-become-industry-standard">Automotive News</a> upon GM's switch that quarterly reporting could lead to "less transparency" and "an information gap" resulting in more speculation errors. The change entirely benefits automakers, though, as reporting once every four months not only hides month-to-month volatility, but also makes news about companies' sales less frequent if they are indeed poor.</p><p>Plenty of carmakers are still reporting monthly for now, with names like Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Subaru, Infiniti, Nissan, and Hyundai all publishing by the month as of December. But the future of car sales <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/auto-industry-shrinking-at-peak-car-dragging-global-economy-lower-2019-10-1028644883#supply-constraints1">doesn't look great worldwide</a> as we reach a concept dubbed "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/peak-car-38000-layoffs-job-losses-sales-at-auto-makers-2019-5">peak car</a>," which is exactly what it sounds like - a compelling reason to consider reporting sales less often.</p><p>And if this quarterly trend continues for US sales, that's exactly what automakers will be doing. </p>

Monthly sales reports fall even further by the wayside in the car industry as Volkswagen, Audi join the movement to quarterly reporting

<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Volkswagen is trying to mix things up overseas to try and nail down some higher profit margins.</span></p>
<p>The car company is launching a luxury car designed solely for China next year. It is set to be based on Audi's A6, which now holds the top spot in China among luxury sedans. Volkswagen is entering into direct competition with Audi, and hoping it will pay off.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Reuters spoke to two people with knowledge of the plan, though they couldn't elaborate on how the car's features would be specific to China. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">The Audi A6 in </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">China</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"> has a longer body than A6s elsewhere, allowing more leg room and out-sizing many of its rivals.</span></p>
<p>The price of the VW premium sedan is undetermined, and nearing the A6's 383,000 yuan ($62,375) starting price would risk cannibalizing Audi sales. But Volkswagen, better known for small cars and family-oriented models, is drawn to Audi's margins. Volkswagen sells three times more cars than Audi globally, yet Audi earns more than double the profit of VW-branded cars.</p>
<p>"Volkswagen wants to boost its brand value, which is natural for any company seeking higher margins. But it's not easy," said Yale Zhang, managing director at consultancy Automotive Foresight.</p>
<p>"If Volkswagen's premium car is priced too high, people would go straight to Audi. If the price is not high, then what's the point?"</p>
<p>Volkswagen aims to replicate Audi's success in luxury vehicles at a time when a state crackdown on extravagance among public officials is creating demand for upmarket cars absent of marques typically associated with opulence.</p>
<p>Going upmarket would see the German auto maker trespass into a segment dominated by Audi, BMW <BMWG.DE> and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz, which are in turn seeking growth by producing more affordable models closer to Volkswagen's line-up.</BMWG.DE></p>
<p>"Selling luxury cars makes for fatter profit. Volkswagen believes this segment will continue to grow rapidly," said one of the people, who is not authorized to talk to the media so declined to be identified.</p>
<p>"Premium models under the Volkswagen brand will be especially attractive to those who want a superior car but don't want to catch too much attention," said the person, dismissing the long-term impact of the crackdown.</p>
<p>China's premium car market could surpass that of the United States to become the world's biggest as early as 2016 thanks to increasing affluence, forecast consultancy McKinsey &amp; Co.</p>
<p>The Volkswagen group operates upper-class name plates Audi, Bentley, Porsche and Lamborghini independently to its Volkswagen brand. The group commands over one-fifth of China's passenger vehicle market where it dominates in mid-tier compact sedans.</p>
<h3>CODE NAME 511</h3>
<p>Volkswagen's new premium car is code-named 511, the people said. It was designed inEurope but will be the brand's first large "C-class" sedan manufactured in China - byShanghai Volkswagen, a joint venture with China's SAIC Motor Corp Ltd.</p>
<p>A spokeswoman at Volkswagen in China confirmed the existence of a plan for a C-classcar but declined to provide details. SAIC Motor declined to comment.</p>
<p>Shanghai Volkswagen produces the Santana, China's No. 2-selling compact sedan this year, according to researcher LMC Automotive. But the German auto maker's joint venture with China FAW Group Corp [SASACJ.UL], FAW-Volkswagen Automobile, is more profitable because it builds Audi cars, one of the people said.</p>
<p>Volkswagen earned 1.01 billion euros ($1.29 billion) in operating profit in January-June selling 2.3 million VW passenger vehicles globally. By comparison, Audi earned 2.67 billion euros from 750,000 cars.</p>
<p>Volkswagen's entry into China's high-end car market will begin toward the end of 2015. It has not determined a price for its luxury car but has set an annual sales target of 50,000 vehicles, the person said.</p>
<p>To elevate its brand image, Shanghai Volkswagen will set up 100 upscale dealerships across China over the next three years, where the decor and hospitality will give prospective buyers a different feel of a familiar brand, the second person said.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(1 US dollar = 6.1403 Chinese yuan)</p>
<p>(1 US dollar = 0.7769 euro)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(Editing by Christopher Cushing)</p>

Volkswagen Has A Bold And Risky New Plan For Higher Margins

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p><p class="caption">Mercedes-Benz CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The results are in. Mercedes-Benz is now the top selling luxury car brand in the US.</p><p>Mercedes took the top spot selling 340,237 vehicles in the US in 2016. Lexus followed in second place with 331,228 cars sold.</p><p>2015's king of the hill, BMW, finished third with 313,174 sales.</p><p>Audi, which many observers now think of as a fourth member of the "Tier 1" luxury car club, sold 210,213 vehicles.</p><p>That's around 100,000 fewer vehicles than each of the Big Three, but Audi has been coming on strong in recent years</p><p>The Tier 1 auto brands have not experienced the same red hot sales figures as the rest of the industry.</p><p>In fact, only Audi experienced positive growth with sales up 4% over 2015.</p><p>Why?</p><p>The blame falls on coupes and sedans.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p><p class="caption">Mercedes-Benz GLC 300.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Over the past few years, growth in the US auto market has been concentrated in crossovers and SUVs - a fact that extends into the luxury segment. Traditionally, the Tier 1 brands could reliably depend on their luxury coupes and sedans to generate sales volume.</p><p>While the sales volume is still there, growth isn't.</p><p>Of the 31 non-crossover/SUV models offered by the four major brands, only five saw sales grow in 2016 - the Audi A4, R8, and TT along with the BMW 2-Series and 7-Series. In the case of these 5 models, all except the BMW 2-Series can attribute growth to pent up demand driven by the availability of a new generation product.</p><p>As a result, the four major brands live and die with their crossovers and SUVs.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p><p class="caption">Lexus RX350.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Neither Mercedes-Benz nor Lexus had any of its non-SUV models experience sales growth and yet, the brands managed to finish one-two in total sales. That's because both feature incredibly strong portfolios of SUVs.</p><p>The new compact GLC crossover has worked wonders for Mercedes' SUV lineup. GLC sales grew 71.6%. The full-size GLS and ultra-premium G-Wagon models saw sales increase by roughly 9% respectively.</p><p>For Lexus, its strong stable of SUVs have been a saving grace. While its passenger cars sales fell 20% last year, the brand's SUV sales shot up 12.5%. The mid-size Lexus RX has been a market leader for more than a decade. Last year, it was joined by the compact NX which saw sales increase by 25.4%.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matthew DeBord/BI</span></p><p class="caption">BMW X1.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The BMW 3-Series, long-held as the gold standard for compact sports sedans, saw its sales crater this year - down 25.5%. The 4-Series fell 22.2% while 5-Series sales shrunk 26.6%. Even though BMW's X1 and X3 crossovers saw a solid uptick in sales, they could not make up for the losses in the passenger car segment of its lineup. As a result, BMW sales fell 9.5% from 346,023 vehicles to 313,174.</p><p>Of the Tier 1 brands, Audi actually saw overall growth. VW's Group's luxury division was buoyed by strong growth from the A4 sedan along with the Q3 and Q7 crossover SUVS.</p><p>However, Audi is the junior member of the club. But over the past 15 years, the carmaker has stormed back to prominence in the US market after a scandal derailed the brand's growth during late 1980s. </p><p>As Audi continues to grow year-over-year, the Ingolstadt-based brand will likely continue to close ground on the three stalwart Tier 1 brands. That could mean that BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus won't have the annual sales battle all to themselves for much longer.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/money-save-invest-401k-millionaire-2016-12">How much money you need to save each day to become a millionaire by age 65</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="l3Y3JoODE6AznwShkXttejURmRE6JOzK" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Mercedes-Benz just dethroned BMW as the king of luxury cars in America

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span>Audi</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Audi's high performance diesel prototype racers have decimated its competition on the race tracks for the last decade.</p><p>Now, Audi is taking its high-performance oil-burning tech and dropping it into the company's flagship Q7 SUV to create the new SQ7 TDI. </p><p>Under the hood, the SQ7 comes packing Audi's new 4.0 liter, twin-turbocharged, diesel V8 engine with an electric compressor. </p><p>The result is a luxury SUV with 435 horsepower and 664 lb. ft. of torque while achieving a manufacturer claimed 32 mpg. </p><p>According to Audi, the SQ7 is good for a sprint to 62 mph in just 4.8 seconds and an artificially limited top speed of 155mph. </p><p>That's impressive for such a large high-performance crossover SUV. </p><p>And much of this can be attributed to that new twin-turbo diesel V8. </p><p>The 4.0 liter unit utilizes sequential turbocharging technology which deploys one turbo for low and medium engine speeds and the other for high-end performance.</p><p>The two exhaust driven turbos are augmented by a electric compressor unit that fills in any gaps in the engines' performance envelope. Since the compressor cuts out any delay time the turbos need to spool up, the system essentially neutralizes the dreaded turbo lag. </p><p>Although Audi and VW Group's diesel technology has been under great scrutiny in the past year, there's no doubting the capability and potential the company's diesel tech possess. As a result of VW's emissions scandal, sales of the company's TDI-powered cars are on hold in the US.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span>Audi</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>However, it should be noted that the scandal is centered around VW's smaller 2.0 and 3.0 liter powerplants while the large 4.o liter units have not been affected.</p><p>Business Insider had the chance to test out the Audi Q7 on which the SQ7 is based and found the large crossover to be quite a competent performer. With the 4.0 liter turbodiesel, the SQ7 looks to be an impressive beast indeed.</p><p>Audi has yet to confirm whether the performance-oriented Audi SQ7 TDI will ever make it over to US showrooms. The gasoline-powered Q7 crossover is currently on sale with a base price of $54,800. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span>Audi</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/audi-r8-driverless-concept-car-china-ces-a8-e-tron-2015-5">The driverless electric supercar concept that Audi brought to China would impress Iron Man</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="QwaXRhdTr4Qs1El0VVMn_HAYjrgr7CCG" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

You Searched For "audi sale" and got 13 results

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