Although 2008 was an abysmal year for auto sales, Volkswagen’s Audi premium brand reached a major sales milestone. In its quest to become the world’s highest volume luxury brand, Audi sold 1,003,400 vehicles worldwide last year, marking the first time the German marque has recorded seven-digit sales figures.
Audi came close to cracking the million unit barrier in 2007, but fell short with 964,151 sales.
The achievement is largely credited to Audi’s fresh vehicle lineup, which is one of the youngest in the industry. Audi has released 12 new or updated models in the last 12 months, including the all-new Q5 SUV and A4 sedan and wagon.
Audi’s sales were fueled by strong demand in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, and the brand even managed a 17.4 percent sales increase in December – a month when most other automakers posted double-digit global losses. However, Audi’s U.S. sales dipped by 6.1 percent in 2008.
Now that Audi has topped the million unit mark, the German automaker is planning to sell 1.5 million vehicles globally by 2015.



01/08, 2:14 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Funny how this news came after the release of the hot new Lacrosse. Maybe Audi is scared?
01/08, 2:30 PM
posted by:
911
Could someone donate some brain for need more brain for GM, please? Thanx
01/08, 2:34 PM
posted by:
rzegatl
Yeah, Audi is afraid of the new Lacrosse.
01/08, 2:41 PM
posted by:
peter g
AUDI’s afraid of the new Lacrosse..? You made me laugh so hard I almost hurt my pancreas!
01/08, 2:45 PM
posted by:
atoms
i’m already getting my suit ready for buicks funeral
01/08, 2:45 PM
posted by:
atoms
kudos audi
01/08, 2:50 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
I’ll be the one laughing when the Lacrosse steals buyers from your precious Audi. Buick is back and Audi should be scared. The Enclave is already the standard in its class (The Q7 is a sales flop) and the Lucerne handidly beats the A6 in sales. The Lacrosse is gonna swoop in and steal A4 buyers easily. Thew Lacrosse is a high quality piece built by a company known fro building high quality, reliable vehicles that last for hundreds of thousands of miles with narry a problem.
Nobody in their right mind would say the same about Audi. That’s why people lease Audis and then dump em before the warranty is up.
Get a clue
01/08, 2:52 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
The Lacrosse is better looking, more spacious and comes with AWD, same as Audi. There is nothing that says Buick cannot compete with Audi.
01/08, 3:01 PM
posted by:
fungho
Anyway, Audi shouldn’t be afraid for any car make at all. Every car-make in the world has problems because of the economy, and what happens at Audi?! They sell over 1 million cars in 1 year! So why would they be afraid for Buick? Let’s be honest, American people don’t care about fuel-economy that much, less then European for sure. European cars are just better in fuel-economy then American cars in general, and Audi is very good at it! And I think it’s a very very very big challenge for Buick to sell 1 million cars in 1 year! I wish them the best, but I just think there is no car make in the world which is able to beat Audi at this moment!
Cyaz
01/08, 3:01 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
the lucerne beat the audi because its cheaper! the majority of audi owners who buy a6’s have another audi, and those people are usually business men who drive good cars! not cheap as sh!t like the lucerne! thats like saying “take that mercedes, chevy sells more impalas than mercedes sells s-classes!” it’s totaly a stupid a$$ coment
NMOFG, your comments are usually the dumbest one i come across on LLN, but they make me laugh!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!
01/08, 3:05 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
“Thew Lacrosse is a high quality piece built by a company known fro building high quality, reliable vehicles that last for hundreds of thousands of miles with narry a problem.”
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!
I could go on for days but it would hurt. I’ve never experienced a reliable buick in my life besides the enclave!
NMOFG, are you seriously drunk all the time when you post on here? because that’s the only reasonable explanation for your stupid moronic comments!
01/08, 3:07 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
There is nothing to laugh at bub. Your argument is weak. Their is no reason why a Lucerne could not be compared with the A6, especially one without Quattro. The Lacrosse is available with a V8 for under 40 grand, the lowest A6 doesn’t even start until 43 grand, and that’s with a wimpy POS V6. The quality of the Lucerne kicks the A6 ass besides rompin it in the power dept. Just proves that the Audi is overpriced, not that the Lucerne isn’t good enough.
01/08, 3:24 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Need More Oil you crack me up….
I’m LOL at you, not with you…. I mean the other way around, ya… that’s it the other way…..LOL…
01/08, 3:27 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
hahhahahhahhaahaahahahahahaa…keep on talking bud. it’s clear that you sit in your cars with your head shoved up your a$$. you are comparing a loaded super sport buick to a base audi?!?! that makes a lot of sense to me! its a v8 with less than 300hp!!! that’s a complete joke!!
A 2009 audi a6 with the 3.2 can do 0-60 in 6.9 seconds. the lame v8 buick does 0-60 in 7.7 seconds, even with almost 40hp more! audi engines are more reliable than anything that is currently offered on buicks(not enough reliability info is known yet on the new 3.6di)
i’m pretty sure the lucerne uses the northstar 4.7 v8 with only about 290hp.LOL!!!!!!
the Lacross has the same regular 5.3 v8 that you find on the impala and other large gm cars. this adds .6 liters and only adds about 10 hp……………………..LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL!!
it’s still pretty clear that you know jack **** about cars and your statements are very biased based on your gay love affair with gm!
got any other lame biased comments??
01/08, 3:47 PM
posted by:
Borat
Hey, Need more tax Dollars for GM, customer base of Buick is already either dead or lost driving privileges due to insanity clause. GM is to follow.
01/08, 3:53 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
The issue for Audi in the future is what and how many vehicles Porsche will let them make.
01/08, 3:58 PM
posted by:
atoms
buicks just like a senior citizen, its prime was half a century ago
01/08, 3:59 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
I’m sure audi is going to meet some problems in the future, everyone does, but i bet their cars are going to get better and better!
01/08, 4:00 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
Interesting, because Audi isn’t that big in the U.S.. So they must sell a ton of cars in Europe and Asia. In the U.S., Audi is ranked like only 6th or 7th in sales among luxury brands. They’re behind BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac, Lexus, Infiniti, Acura in sales in the U.S..
01/08, 4:16 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM is an idiot
Last I checked buick never got banned from an international rally series cuz they had such great AWD. Or wait I dont think buick would be allowed in a rally race period cuz the shocks would bounce the car off the road!
01/08, 4:26 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
Need more oil for GM is an idiot,
LOVE YOUR NAME!!!!
01/08, 4:30 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
impressive… won’t happen in 2009
01/08, 4:31 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
People are finding out about Audi.
Check this out
the Q7 and Enclave are unquestionably the top two “crossovers.”
Don’t care which is one or which is 2.
01/08, 4:35 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
****Note to anyone on the internet****
Anyone who happens to stumble on this article regarding the Audi should do themselves a favor and drive the new Buick Lacrosse. It will be 10x the car.
01/08, 4:41 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
NMOFG, is the new lacrosse out at dealers? i hope you answer fast because i only got an hour and 20 minutes before dealers close here!
01/08, 4:44 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
***Note to anyone on the internet***
Anyone who happens to stumble on this article regarding the Audi should do themselves a favor and drive the new Buick Lacrosse. It will be 10x the car.
01/08, 5:01 PM
posted by:
A4
GO AUDI GO!
sorry GM but youre really scraping the bottom of the barrel on this one you twit
the A4 wipes the floor with your lacrosse.
01/08, 5:03 PM
posted by:
Automotive_United_Nations
Having driven everything in Audi’s North American lineup, including the R8, this comes to me as no surprise.
As for Need More Oil For GM…..you’re an idiot.
First of all, the A6 is in a completely different class than the Lucerne in terms of refinement.
Secondly, the new A6 gets a 3.0L supercharged V6 (being a Buick man i’m sure you’re familiar with the power they make and the efficiency they have). So let’s see, i’ll even compare it to your new Lacrosse:
2010 Buick Lacrosse:
3.0L DI V6, 255 hp, 211 lb. ft of torque
3.6L DI V6, 280 hp, 261 lb. ft of torque
2009 Audi A6:
3.2L V6, 255 hp
3.0L TFSI V6, 300 hp, 310lb. ft of torque
4.2L V8, 350 hp
5.2L V10, 435 hp
5.2L TFSI V10, 560 hp
Don’t even get me started about quattro.
I’m guessing Need More Oil For GM has probably never set foot in an Audi, let alone driven one. As for your argument about the Q7 and the Enclave, they too, are in completely different catagories, the Q7 has the interior room of an Escalade, and blows both away in terms of refinement.
01/08, 5:03 PM
posted by:
A4
oh? and whats that in the distance? oh wow! its a Q7 mounting an enclave and bangin it right in the tailpipe!
01/08, 5:06 PM
posted by:
A4
and dont forget Automotive_United that the 3.0L TFSI also comes in 330hp form.
01/08, 6:35 PM
posted by:
chester-joe
I’ve owned 3 Audis since ‘86 and one of the things I liked was that my car was rare. Other Audi drivers would wave at me. People would stare as I drove by. I had numerous people come up to me when I drove a 90quattro and ask if it was “one of those new A4s” Congrats to Audi but now they’re just another dime a dozen.
01/08, 7:19 PM
posted by:
darx_ider
God loves Audi
01/08, 7:23 PM
posted by:
JC88
wow, i have to say need more oil you are ignorance in its purest.
01/08, 9:35 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
It makes people uncomfortable to hear this but most Audi’s share FWD DNA with Lacrosse, which renders both unsuitable for any true (cf. boy racer) enthusiast.
01/08, 11:00 PM
posted by:
Veda
Not surprising, in fact I have Audi sales guys here at my office right now delivering my brand new A4.
01/09, 6:12 AM
posted by:
peter g
It’s sad that Need more oil for GM is in total denial; he’ll never know what hit him.
01/09, 8:10 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
And yet nobody has given any proof that the Lacrosse couldn’t be compared to the A6. It only trounces those Nazi Pieces of sh1t in quality, durability and dependibility as seen in import biased jackasses at Consumer Reports who rank Audi at the bottom of the list with Kia and Land Rover. The only thing Audi had before this new Lacrosse was a little nicer interior materials. Now, it looks like Audi is going to be playing catch up big time. On top of trying to build a decent car with better than awful reliability that Audi and it’s parent Volkswagen are known for.
Face it. GM has Audis number and Audi fans don’t know how to deal with tha fact that their precious car has been pwned.
01/09, 8:11 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
01/09, 10:22 AM
posted by:
SageCallahan
Maybe we’ll believe you in a few months, NMOFGM… Suggesting you’re company isn’t bankrupt.
01/09, 10:33 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
God this idiot makes me laugh(NMOFG)
GM will never be as nice and have as many features with high quality parts and designs that audi has(for a long long time) You are clearly a fncking racist and should be hung from the tallest tree. Do you seriously think that someone idiot like person really believes this biased sh!t that comes out of your mouth?? We have owned 3-vw’s and one audi, we have 1 buick( 2005 ) and it is having more problems than we had with all the vw’s and audi combined. you clearly state biased sh!t and have never even owned these better cars that you keep criticizing.
01/09, 10:34 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
where is your froof that the lacrosse POS is better??
01/09, 11:25 AM
posted by:
KuroSyn
NMOFGM … I’m utterly shocked at your lack of skill in google … May I suggest you to do a thorough investigation into your claims, try your hardest to become unbiased for an hour or so… google up as much relative neutral info about both Lacrosse & Audi A6 (or Audi’s current lineup in general), go to a local Audi dealer if you can, grab a test drive considering if you even have a driver’s license cause the way you talk **** probably they failed you the moment you opened your mouth… grab a test drive with the new Lacrosse when it comes out (keeping in mind that Buick will even have the resources to release the vehicle to as many dealerships as possible considering the fallen path their onto now) and then return to us… until then say nothing more, because you really are making us laugh till it hurts… I’m not a huge fan of Audi or an Audi-head, though as a knowledgeable motorhead, I know enough to say that (and I say this with lots of experience driving cars professionaly including the full range of the Audi spectrum excluding the R8 unfortunately) knowing the technical details of cars as my profession expects me to before I drive them… the Buicks are in a completely different category let alone are completely incomparable to Audi’s… in most aspects. Really, take time off, go see IMA (Ignorant Motorheads Anonnymous) and then bark your Buick bull**** off somewhere, come back with more smarter arguments or just don’t show up at all…
01/09, 11:29 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Where’s your proof that Audi uses better quality parts or superior designs? 16 ball joints are not superior. It’s needlessly complex. Buicks don’t get sludged engines like the 2.0T or the VR6 either and GM transmissions are the most durable in the world. VW transmissions are notorious for failure and draining owners wallets in repair bills.
It is also unAmerican to buy a German built product as you are sending your money overseas, but you don’t seem like the type that could understand such a concept. You should be embarrassed calling yourself an American and driving a foriegn car. Buick is a well known, respected brand by one of the most respected Automakers in history. Audi is foriegn garbage, that doesn’t belong in this Country.
01/09, 11:39 AM
posted by:
Dante_JoseCuervo
And what’s wrong with the 2.0T? It’s a great engine, hell it makes 3ft-lbs less than the 3.6 V6 DI in the LaCrosse. And I’m sure with tuning packages that engine will be pumping similar hp figures to the 2.0T in the TTS. I’m not a big fan of Audi’s FSI V6, but that 4-banger is a damn good engine. I drove one of the B8 A4’s (granted I’m more partial to a manual transmission, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers) and the low-end grunt from that thing is phenomenal. And for everyday driving, that thing is much better than the 3.0 V6 GM has right now. I’m not bashing GM, cause I know they can make a good product, but stop this biasing, or… go back to the land of the squidbillies.
01/09, 11:45 AM
posted by:
KuroSyn
If being an American to you means to do as you say, buy american **** cars, avoid anything that goes into the wallets of countries outside of the us, avoid use of non-us products, and being embarassed to own/use/like anything other than US products…
Then let me tell you this NMOFGM… THANK GOD I’M NOT AMERICAN!!!
Now to clear things up with the others on LLN, no, I have nothing against americans, unless your an idiot like NMOFGM
Now NMOFGM, I live in Europe, I drive cars professionally, a track/car tester so-to-speak, and let me tell you something interesting, in Europe, Ford for example, is doing pretty well amongst Europeans in terms of reputation and models they offer here, I don’t see Europeans point fingers at Ford owners and saying “You should be embarrassed to own something non-european!!! it’s just not european to own them!” Here we don’t have biased approaches to products depending on country of origin, we buy what’s good/reliable/sexy based on our tastes in these machines. If you look at a global survey of what people would want to own, majority of brands picked by them would be european based, so europe makes good enough cars to be respected and loved by drivers… so what? give us a good american car, we’ll drive it. Until then, there really is little to choose from.
btw… Welcome to Globalization, all brands in the world use material/components from ALL over the world *discreetly points his finger towards asia* this includes your oh-so-American cars. Also did you know that the engineers of American Automotive Brands are mostly non-American? OMG! I didn’t know that! The same goes to European/Asian Automotive Brands… again… welcome to Globalization NMOFGM.
01/09, 12:50 PM
posted by:
nicetry
I currently own 3 audis and know I will own several more over the years, great cars that just continue to get better and better.
01/09, 1:34 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
KuroSyn – Excuse me but I happen to be American. However, in reference to NMOFNM, I have to agree with you. He makes America look ignorant. And as to Ford and GM (Opel), if these two companies gave us the products that you folks get in Europe, they wouldn’t be struggling. I’d LOVE to get my hands on a Ford Mondeo Estate or a Ford Kuga. And you Focus beats the pants off of the “crap pile”‘ (excuse my language) that they try to pass for a Focus in America.
I will say that I think the LaCrosse (Opel Insignia) will really help GM with recovery and I would really like to test it out (I’m a true car nut and love taking anything out for a test drive). As for blowing the Germans out of the water, ain’t going to happen. I’ve driven the brand new A4 (2.0T Quattro) and have to say that it’s one of the best packaged machines I’ve ever driven. I couldn’t afford it with the features I wanted so I went to their little brother division and bought a 3.6l Passat Estate instead (year end close out deals on the 2008’s were just too good to turn down) – I love the Passat
If Audi keeps going with Q5 and maybe even A1, they’ll just solidify themselves in America.
01/09, 2:11 PM
posted by:
Dante_JoseCuervo
ricky_b
I’m with you on that, I would love a Focus RS (ZOMG THAT CAR LOOKS AWESOME!), but unfortunately we won’t be getting a lot of those awesome cars here, although I hear the Taurus is just gonna be a rebadged mondeo, which isn’t a bad thing. I mean if it’s good enough for 007, then it’s good enough for me. As for the A4, I love it too, but I’m waiting for a manual to show up so I can test it out and see how I like it.
01/09, 2:43 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Bring a tow truck along for the ride
01/09, 2:44 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Or a friend in a GM vehicle for when you get stranded.
01/09, 3:30 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
make sure you get a tow truck for that gm too!
01/09, 4:03 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
Dante, I wish the Taurus would be based on the Mondeo but I believe the next gen Fusion will be based on the Mondeo. This new Taurus we keep seeing spy photos of is (as I understand it) a retooled version of what’s out already. That cas is based somewhat on the old Volvo S80 platform; and something got lost in translation when they brought that design over. My big fear about the 2010 Taurus is that they’re forcing it into the Large category where their aren’t as many buyers.. On the A4… wouldn’t it be kicking with the new turbo six. Sweetness.
01/10, 4:24 PM
posted by:
KuroSyn
ricky_b like i said, i have nothing against americans, I have lots of friends from all over, my professional gets me with many gearheads from all over the world. But on the same note as NMOFGM we also have our few idiots who make us look like ignorant fools… but hey, ignore their ignorance I say.
As returning to car matters, I’m also surprised why Ford won’t bring some of their amazing products from Europe to the US, I mean, why are we getting the better hand? But the same goes for why we can’t get proper Corvette’s or Challengers or even the fastest 4 door saloon car in the world CTS-V? wouldn’t these obvious changes help the Big 3?
Audi is doing well all in all, they deserve this mile-stone. Go Audi, can’t wait to drive the A1 or Q5, should do very well in the world. I sometimes wonder though, if Audi were to make a Pick Up & a Truck… what would they look like? lol
01/10, 6:24 PM
posted by:
Dante_JoseCuervo
ricky_b
Ooops, guess I was wrong about the taurus, hmm a fusion based on a mondeo, not a bad idea still. I mean it’s a very very good car. But I still want that new Focus RS
In terms of the A4 though, isn’t it a supercharged six? I know it says TFSI, but it’s actually a supercharged engine, I guess they figured SFSI wouldn’t look or sound nice?