FRANKFURT: Germany’s top auto makers scored another month of high sales in October due to strong demand in Europe and Asia for new models and the popularity of sport-utility vehicles.
Audi AG said its sales rose 11% to 146,200 cars in October from the same month last year. Daimler AG said its sales of Mercedes-Benz cars rose 12% last month.
Daimler benefited from the roll out of new Mercedes models. “Already in the first month after the market launch the C-Class estate and the S-class coupe were extremely popular,” said the luxury-car brand’s sales chief Ola Källenius.
Audi, Volkswagen AG ’s biggest-selling premium automotive brand, said demand for its Q5 midsize SUV helped boost global sales growth in the period.“Since its market introduction at the end of 2008, the model has increased its sales total steadily year by year,” Audi said.
Audi and Daimler, the world’s number two and number three luxury car makers by sales after BMW AG , reported solid growth in Europe, especially in Spain and Belgium, where they recorded double-digit growth. Daimler’s sales grew 9.8% to 60,632 cars in Europe and Audi’s expanded by 5.4% to 65,100 cars.
In their home market, Daimler’s sales rise 4.5%, whereas Audi’s sales inched up 0.5%. The companies’ figures supported data released earlier this week showing German new car registrations rose in October helped by strong orders for both domestic and foreign brands.
Demand in emerging markets remained strong, particularly in Asia. Mercedes sales in China rose 33%. Audi’s sales rose 17%.
