Audi March China sales up 7% to 11,848 cars

German carmaker Audi AG said Wednesday it achieved a sales increase in China of 7% on the year in March, its best-ever monthly result.

Including Hong Kong, 11,848 vehicles were sold - a seven-percent increase over March 2008. This record performance is due in particular to the long-wheelbase version of the Audi A4, produced exclusively for the Chinese market and available since January 2009.

"We are pleased with this healthy growth in China, our second home market," says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. "These successful sales figures make us confident about the rest of the year."

Produced in Changchun, the A4L enjoyed an increase in sales of 25 percent to 2,338 units. The Audi A6L built on a similarly solid foundation: 8,257 units were delivered to customers in March for a year-on-year increase of 5 percent.

Audi entered the Chinese market in 1988 and sold some 120,000 vehicles there last year. To handle increasing demand, the cornerstone was laid last year for an additional assembly line in Changchun. Production of the Audi Q5 is scheduled to begin there at the end of this year.

From April 20 to 28, 2009, Audi will exhibit at the "Auto Shanghai 2009" show where it will celebrate, among other things, the world premiere of the new generation Audi Q7.