Audi ended 2010 with total sales of around 1,092,400 cars, exceeding the Company’s annual forecasts and marking the year as its best ever in terms of sales. Input from the brand’s home market again elevated Germany to first position in the overall sales rankings with 229,157 units sold. China was, however, hot on its heels with a record 227,938 units sold, while in the United States the brand achieved sales surpassing the 100,000 mark for the first time. The UK’s contribution of 99,828 units is 9.5 per cent up on its 2009 figure, and positions it a very creditable fourth on the grid after the USA.

“We have set a historic sales record on the US-market, while achieving the best earnings in the United States in a long time,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, member of the board of management for marketing and sales at AUDI . “In the next few years we will bring our successful TDI clean diesel technology to the executive class: We will offer our US customers TDI engines also in the new generation of the Audi A6 and A8. This will significantly bolster our position in this segment.”

Sales in December also rose significantly in Europe as a whole, to about 52,200 units, an increase of 18.2 percent compared to December 2009. From January to December, AUDI AG sold 647,600 cars in the region – and confirmed its position as Europe’s bestselling premium car brand.