Audi’s six-month sales surge in China
German car maker Audi AG said yesterday its six-month sales were up 23 percent in China.
The firm said it sold 60,509 vehicles in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, from January to June, a record for the Ingolstadt-based auto maker that is part of Volkswagen AG.
“These results underscore Audi’s market leading position in the premium segment in China,” CEO Rupert Stadler said in a statement. “We’re very happy with the positive development in our second home market, and will further develop our production capacities.”
Audi produces its A6 model in Changchun in Jilin Province and the company said that car saw its sales rise 18 percent in the first six months with buyers snapping up 42,969 of the vehicle.
The Audi A4, also produced in China, posted sales totaling 10,819 in the same time period, a 20 percent increase over the first half of 2007.
Audi said it started building a second production facility in Changchun in June to accommodate the rising demand from buyers in the country. Audi has been present in China since 1988 and sold more than 100,000 cars in the country for the first time last year.
Audi shares were trading down 1.25 percent at 473 euros (US$742.61) yesterday. Volkswagen shares were also trading 1 percent lower at 177.60 euros in Frankfurt morning trading.
Tags: AUDI, Auto, car-maker, Volkswagen