Audi headed toward its best year ever in the U.S.

(September 3, 2010) HERNDON, Va. — Audi bucked the August trend recording its best August ever in the U.S. while most automakers saw sales slump compared to last year's "Cash for Clunkers"-stimulated August.

The German automaker maintained its 2010 momentum with record sales surpassing the prior August record set in 2003 by more than 900 vehicles.

August 2010 sales of Audi cars and SUVs climbed 14 percent compared to August 2009, and marked the best monthly sales performance since May of this year.

The August results keep the German luxury automaker on track to set a vehicle sales record in the U.S. by year-end. The existing annual sales record for Audi in the U.S. is 93,506 vehicles sold in 2007.

Overall, Audi sold 9,182 luxury cars and SUVs in August. The automaker has posted steady quarter-to-quarter sales increases of more than 5 percent and nearly 15 percent over June 2010 and July 2010, respectively.

2010 Audi Q7

The August 2010 results were buoyed by the continued extraordinary consumer response by year-over-year sales increases for the Audi Q5 crossover and Audi Q7. For the month, Audi sold 2,675 Q5 vehicles, a 78.8 percent increase over the 1,496 vehicles sold in August 2009. The Q5 line also enjoyed more than a 25 percent August 2010 sales jump over July 2010. For August 2010, Audi reported Q7 sales of 560, a 42.1 percent increase above the 394 vehicles sold a year earlier.

Through the first two months of the second half of this year, Audi has enjoyed significant sales growth. That gain is largely bolstered by continued consumer demand for the Audi A3, which recorded both a 17.7 percent uptick in sales for August 2010 and 74.8 percent calendar year to date.

“Audi is in a desirable position in the luxury vehicle market as we continue to post strong U.S. sales,” said Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen. “All indications continue to point toward 2010 winding up as the best year Audi has ever enjoyed in the U.S. market.”