In the first quarter of 2011, Audi posted 24.6% growth over the corresponding prior-year period in its largest foreign market, selling a total of 64,122 cars in China and Hong Kong.
Sales of imported vehicles went up by 66.4% to a total of 11,481 units. The A8 L, which was launched in March, sold 1,655 units in March alone. Sales of the Audi A5 Coupé from January to March more than doubled from 339 to 716 units (up 111.2%), while deliveries of the Audi Q7 increased by 76.6% to 4,051.
With 51,951 units sold, the Audi models built in Changchun (A4 L, A6 L and Q5) went up 18.2% and thus posted a new record figure.
Audi is targeting 2011 sales of around 280,000 units in China, said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales. In line with rising demand the Audi dealer network is also being extended; the current number of 174 dealers will increase to more than 400 by the end of 2013.
The Audi Q3 will make its world premiere at Auto Shanghai 2011 from 19-28 April.