Audi India sets new sales benchmarks

Although 2013 was a disappointing year for the Indian automotive industry in general with slumping sales and a gloomy economic climate, the luxury car market seems to be booming like never before. Audi India has been on the #1 position in terms of sales for a couple of years now and 2013 was a particularly good year for the Ingolstadt based automotive giant.

After registering sales of 10002 units in the year 2013, Audi India has set another benchmark registering 10126 units in the financial year 2013-2014. Audi has also registered its best ever monthly sales of 1404 units for the month of March and also the highest ever first quarterly sales at 2740 units for the period of January to March 2014. The ever-increasing sales, both for Audi and for the luxury car market in general paint a clear picture of the Indian automotive industry beginning to gain some steam after a disastrous last year.

Speaking on the occasion, Joe King, Head, Audi India said, “The double achievement of selling 10000 units in a single financial year and calendar year validates the strength and stature that the brand has achieved in India. We are looking forward to consolidate our position while growing profitably in the future as well. In line with our top-down strategy, we will be launching the next big Audi – Audi A3 Sedan later this year. Globally, the Audi A3 has been a great success and I feel that it is just the right product for the Indian market and will further delight customers across the country.”

Audi’s new entry-level luxury sedan, the A3 will be launched soon and will go up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class that will be launched by the end of the year. As we recently reported the Audi A3 is being tested and might be launched as recently as next month. The A3 will come with a 1.8-litre TFSI petrol engine developing 180PS of power and 250Nm of torque and a 2.0-litre diesel motor with 152PS power and 320Nm torque rating, both familiar engines doing duty in the Audi range sold here. Two gearboxes should be on offer – the 6-speed manual unit from the Q3S and the familiar S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox.

The A3 sedan will target a younger audience like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series. But unlike its German competitors, Audi has decided to launch a sedan as their most affordable car in its range most likely because the sedan body style is seen as a status symbol in India. And since it will be assembled here, expect the A3 to be priced on par with these hatchbacks or even undercut them.