German automaker Audi sold 2,615 vehicles in the Middle East during the first three months of the year compared to 2,112 in the same period last year, marking an increase of 23.8 per cent.
With 55 per cent of total sales, the UAE is the largest market for Audi in the Middle East in terms of volume. Sales in the Emirates grew by 37.6 per cent to 1,159 vehicles sold in the first quarter.
Audi’s local partners in the UAE, Al Nabooda Automobiles and Ali & Sons, is investing heavily in sales and aftersales infrastructure in order to accommodate the growing demand, a company statement said.
Sales remained stable in Saudi Arabia, Audi’s second biggest market in the region, with 467 vehicles sold in the first three months of 2013.
Kuwait ranked third with sales of 319 vehicles and an increase of 12.9 per cent. Double digit growth was registered also in Lebanon, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Iraq.
“Our sales results are the bottom line of products we deliver and the service we provide,” said Trevor Hill, managing director of Audi Middle East. “By focusing on capacity and quality across the region we are strengthening the backbone for this growth and the future success of Audi in the region: satisfied customers.”
The Audi Q7 SUV remains Audi’s top selling model with 572 vehicles sold in the first quarter and an increase of 72.3 per cent, showing the enormous popularity of the Q7 even in its seventh model year.
The new Audi Q7 is expected to arrive in the Middle East in mid-2015. The Q7 is followed closely by Audi’s flagship, the A8 L, with 448 units delivered, the Q5 SUV with 414 units and a growth of 39.4 per cent and ranking fourth, the Audi A6 with 389 units.
Audi is projecting continued positive development in the region for 2013 and aims for double digit growth, fuelled by the launches of several Audi lighthouse products including the Audi RS 4 Avant and the Audi R8 Product Improvement, the statement added.
