Amidst the 2013 Dubai International Motor Show, Audi has revealed its Middle East sales figures for the third quarter year-to-date. Deliveries to customers in the region have increased by 16.4 percent to 7,719 units (2012: 6,629) compared to the first three quarters of 2012. The German premium manufacturer presented a further three new models at the region’s largest automotive event – the Audi A3/S3 Sedan, the RS 6 Avant as well as the RS 7 – in addition to the RS 4 Avant, the new R8 range and the RS 5 Cabriolet, which were launched earlier in the year.
While the motor show is all about Audi’s latest sports models with the lineup totaling 4982hp, its sales in the first three quarters came primarily from its traditional best-sellers, the large SUVs and sedans. The Audi Q7 remained the brand’s front runner with a total of 1,567 units sold across the region – an increase of 37.8 percent (2012: 1,137). The 7-seater SUV is followed by its smaller cousin, the Audi Q5 SUV, with 1,262 units (plus 30.20 percent) and the Audi A6 sedan with 1,263 units (minus 3.3 percent). Audi’s flagship sedan – the Audi A8 L & S8, which will receive a model update in 2014 – ranks a close fourth with 1,196 units sold in the first three quarters of the year (minus 5.2 percent).
“2013 will be the first time where we’ll cross the threshold of 10,000 units sold annually in the Middle East. This is a big achievement for us. As we grow in the region we have to maintain our Audi premium promise also in sales and after sales service and we’ve initiated a number of large-scale construction projects together with our regional partners to achieve that,” explained Trevor Hill, Managing Director of Audi Middle East.
The strongest markets in terms of year-to-date sales for the first three quarters of the year are the United Arab Emirates with 3,235 units delivered to customers (2012: 2747) – an increase of 17.8 percent over the same period last year, followed by Saudi Arabia with 1,403 units (2012: 1,420), and Kuwait with 1,018 units (2012: 948).
October year-to-date Audi’s figures are up 15.4 percent compared to the same period last year, achieving sales of 8,593 vehicles across the region (2012: 7,449).
