High-end car maker Audi said on Jan. 8 it had sold more than a million vehicles last year, a record that contrasted sharply with slumping global sector sales. The company, which belongs to tVolkswagen, hit its target of a record one million auto sales with an increase of 4.1% from the level in 2007.
For Audi, it was the 13th consecutive annual record, boss Rupert Stadler noted. In December, when most automakers were reporting sharp drops in sales, Audi sales gained 17%. Its results were even 23% stronger than in December 2007.
Audi also saw sales fall by 6% last year in the U.S. last year, but compensated with an increase of 2.5% in western Europe and a jump of 16% in the Asia-Pacific region.
Audi benefited from the introduction of new models throughout 2008, including the introduction in November of its Q5, a high-end cross between compact car and a sports utility vehicle.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009
