Led By Crossovers, Audi Sets 71st Consecutive Sales Mark; Sedan Sales Off

What a difference a week or so makes. A few days ago, sales execs at Audi were expressing some doubt as to whether the automaker would meet the numbers needed to continue its almost six-year record sales run. Indeed, they stated that while they would like to set another November sales mark, the automaker wasn’t tied to it. All they wanted to do was make sure that sales were on the plus side of the balance sheet.

Well, they can relax as they needed have worried whether Audi would set another record in November, the 71st consecutive month of sales increases. Audi did, indeed, set another record as sales were up a total of 2.5 percent versus a year ago. Sales for the month were 17,118 with the Q7 crossover leading the way. Also, Q3 and A4 continued to lead sales volumes. The previous November record – last year – was 16,700.

2.9 Percent Overall Hike

The good news continued for Audi as year-to-date sales have jumped 2.9 percent to 187,018, “despite a tightening of the premium market,” Audi said in a statement.

Sales for the Q7 more than doubled, while Q3 numbers were up 45 percent, while A4 posted a 30 percent hike.

Well, they needn’t have worried as Audi set another record in November, the 71st consecutive month. Audi’s crossover and SUV models bolstered the automaker’s overall volume. Total SUV sales were up 22 percent over last November and 17 percent year-to-date. The Q5, Audi’s best-performing crossover, remained its volume leader with 4,187 vehicles sold, while Q3 sales jumped 45 percent over last year to 1,613 vehicles. Q7 had a huge – 104 percent – hike from a year ago. Q7 sales were 2,605 vehicles.

Audi said demand for the A4 sedan remained strong with 3,143 vehicles sold, a 30 percent increase for the month and 19 percent year-to-date. These healthy numbers came despite a sedan market that has been less than stellar for the last nine months as crossover sales have been blistering.

Interestingly, an electric had its best month ever in November as the A3 Sportback e-tron had nearly 400 deliveries, boosting sales to nearly 3,700 year-to-date.

Audi Expects Continued Momentum
Mark Del Rosso, Audi America’s chief operating officer said the automaker it is confident that its “momentum will continue in 2017, which promises to be one of the biggest launch years in Audi of America history.”
Here’s a complete breakout chart of Audi’s sales year. Note that sedan sales were less than stellar.

AUDI US SNAPSHOT --MTD-- --YTD--
Model Line Nov '16 Actual Nov '15 Actual Yr/Yr %
change Nov '16 YTD Actual Nov '15 YTD Actual Yr/Yr %
change
A3 2,063 3,028 -31.9% 28,634 32,732 -12.5%
A4 3,143 2,418 30.0% 30,678 25,841 18.7%
A5 482 1,277 -62.3% 7,763 11,934 -35.0%
A6 1,532 1,582 -3.2% 16,670 20,394 -18.3%
A7 576 636 -9.4% 5,747 6,880 -16.5%
A8 343 364 -5.8% 3,648 4,566 -20.1%
allroad 271 301 -10.0% 1,989 2,564 -22.4%
Q5 4,187 4,520 -7.4% 43,154 45,949 -6.1%
Q7 2,605 1,279 103.7% 27,288 17,806 53.3%
Q3 1,613 1,109 45.4% 18,001 11,728 53.5%
R8 63 10 530.0% 654 480 36.3%
TT 240 176 36.4% 2,792 929 200.5%