First half of 2001: Audi even better than expected
Ingolstadt (ots)
Audi has reported the best first-half result for vehicle sales and sales revenues in company history. The figures now released further exceed the estimates only recently announced at the Annual General Meeting in Ingolstadt.
Sales revenues in the first six months rose by 14.5 percent instead of the estimated 13.7 percent to around DM 22.350 billion. Vehicle sales improved on the previous year by 7 percent instead of the estimated 6.6 percent, to a total of just under 523,300 cars (including Autogerma in Italy). Audi sales were up on the previous year by 6.9 percent instead of the originally estimated 6.2 percent, which is equivalent to more than 368,800 vehicles.
"Our goal this year is to sell a total of more than 700,000 Audi vehicles for the first time," announced Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG.
Despite a declining market, just under 129,700 Audi models had been sold in Germany by the end of June. This figure is 3.6 percent up on one year previously instead of the estimated 3.1 percent. Audi was able to increase its share of the German market to 7.2 percent compared with 6.8 percent in the previous year. Audi sales in Europe (not including Germany) were 5.9 percent up on the previous year instead of the estimated 5.2 percent - equivalent to 157,000 vehicles.
Audi has also continued its success story in the USA. Instead of the estimated 3.5 percent, the company actually managed to boost sales by 7.3 percent to 43,300 vehicles. One of the most successful markets in the rest of the world is China, with sales of around 15,000 vehicles. This figure is not only 79 percent up on the previous year, but also clearly above the company's ambitious expectations.
Note: The Interim Report containing the Group result will be published on 9 August.
ots Original Text Service: AUDI AG Internet: http://www.presseportal.de
Communication: Corporate and Finance Joachim Cordshagen, Tel: +49 (0)841 89-36340, e-mail: joachim.cordshagen@audi.de
Communication: Corporate and Finance (International) Jürgen De Graeve, Tel: +49 (0)841 89-34084, e-mail: juergen.degraeve@audi.de
Original content of: Audi AG, transmitted by news aktuell