Audi’s vehicle sales jumped about four percent and its net

Audi edit

Audi’s vehicle sales jumped about four percent and its net profit increased 30 percent this year. It sold one million cars in a year for the first time in the company’s history. By 2015 it wants to become number one in the premium segment and surpass its competitors, BMW and Mercedes. To strengthen its market position, it introduced diesel-powered vehicles in the U.S. It continued to complete its model range and plans to launch an even smaller SUV–as well as the A1 and A2 in the compact segment–to target buyers of smaller and efficient vehicles and SUVs. While others are cutting back marketing efforts, Audi increased its advertising budget in the U.S., spending 20 percent more than during the previous year. Nevertheless, the long-term outlook for Audi, in this premium and highly discretionary segment, is not all good news. Pursuing a strategy of range and capacity expansion in a climate of falling demand and oversupply, especially in its German heartland, represents a significant risk to the value of the brand.
Automotive

11 August 2010