May 4, 2010
Ingolstadt – The Audi Group displayed a significant rise in the operating profit above the revenue increase, underlining its strength in the premium segment. Nearly all models of the brand posted double-digit progress in sales regions across the globe in the first quarter of this year. All 264,100 units marketed for Q1 2010 account for the 25.9 percent leap compared to Q1 2009.
From January to March the Group’s revenue was pegged at 8,260 million Euros as compared to last year’s Q1 revenue of 6,700 million Euros, representing a 23.3 percent progression. This was brought about by the phenomenal success of its array of models in many parts of the world.
Nevertheless, the success in revenue was obviously outperformed by the Q1 operating cost which ballooned to 478 million Euros versus the previous year’s 363 million, more than 30 percent.
Axel Strotbek, Board of Management for Finance and Organization member at AUDI AG, comments that “this very good result impressively demonstrates the success of our efforts to optimize costs on a sustained basis at all our sites.”
Sealing the Company’s exemplary position within the automotive sector, its operating return on sales for the three-month period closed at 5.8 percent (2009: 5.4 percent). Strotbek declares that this clearly shows the stable profitability of the Audi Group it its competitive environment.
He adds, “The first quarter result is a sound foundation for us to attain our goal of surpassing our 2009 revenue and operating profit levels.” Following on from the phenomenal sales output in 2008, Audi is again targeting deliveries beyond one million this year.
To attain this goal once again, Audi will be aggressive in pushing for its model initiative at a rapid pace throughout 2010. The four rings logo will sparkle anew in a total of 12 mint models this year, including the recently launched new flagship A8, the R8 Spyder, the A7 Sportback and the A1, the first Audi premium prototype in the small or compact car segment.
For the first time, Audi is appealing to a younger, urban and more vibrant consumer base with the snazzy A1. Debuting in late August, this is the entry-level model into the premium Audi class and can be customized via a wide array of options. In the next few days the carmaker will usher in advance sales; yet 38,500 eager buyers in Germany alone have already expressed interest online in the official Audi site. In fact, back in January the readers of “What Car?” magazine already voted Audi A1 as the most exciting car of 2010.
In Australia, Audi pulled off a record-breaking first quarter output of 3,713 units, up 36 percent from Q1 sales the past year.
