AUDI elevated deliveries of totally electrical fashions by 57.5 per cent and bought over 1.68 million items final yr. The German marque recorded 5 per cent progress within the essential United States market however fell barely in Europe and China, the place gross sales had been down 0.4 and three.6 per cent respectively.
Audi AG member of the board of administration for gross sales and advertising Hildegard Wortmann stated the corporate had been on monitor to interrupt data within the first half of 2021, however was stymied by persistent semiconductor shortages that took impact throughout the second half of the yr.
Ms Wortmann stated the poor availability of semiconductors lowered output by 34.2 per cent within the closing quarter of 2021 in contrast with the corresponding interval within the earlier yr.
Regardless of the challenges, Audi completed the yr with international gross sales nearly equal to these of 2020; its all-electric vary exhibiting notably sturdy progress by growing 57.5 per cent to 81,894 items.
Audi plans to have greater than 20 battery electrical fashions in its portfolio by 2025.
“The yr 2021 was difficult, however with our worldwide crew’s engaged effort, we very efficiently overcame them,” Ms Wortmann stated.
“We’re trying to the long run with confidence. With ‘Vorsprung 2030,’ now we have outlined a transparent technique – our braveness to make lasting modifications is being rewarded: excessive demand for electrical autos from Audi confirms our early choice in favour of zero-emission drive techniques.
“We’re taking this momentum with us into 2022 and systematically urgent forward with our transformation. The big variety of incoming orders additionally exhibits that now we have the suitable portfolio,” she added.
Audi attributes its EV gross sales improve to the presentation of its e-tron GT1 and RS e-tron GT2 early in 2021, saying the This fall e-tron and This fall Sportback e-tron additionally performed “a central position” in its electrification technique.
Ms Wortmann stated Audi’s dedication to electrical mobility was obvious in its capital expenditure planning. Based mostly on accredited plans on the finish of 2021, the corporate will spend round €18 billion ($A28.3 billion) on electrification and hybridisation between 2022 and 2026. The determine represents nearly half on the group’s complete investments over the subsequent 4 years.
“Though the semiconductor provide will proceed to be strained within the coming months, the sturdy progress in electrical mannequin deliveries offers us a tailwind to stay to our roadmap,” Ms Wortmann added.
“The excessive quantity of incoming orders in addition to the highest-ever order backlog present that now we have the suitable portfolio.”
Conventionally powered fashions additionally confirmed progress globally for Audi in 2021. The Q3 SUV led the cost (+19.2%) forward of the A7 (+9.2%), A5 (+8.3%) and Q5 and Q7 (+5.3%) variants. Audi Sport fashions jumped a powerful 34.2 per cent, setting a report of 39,356 international unit gross sales.
In China, Audi ended 2021 with gross sales of 701,289 autos (-3.6%), imported fashions growing in demand because the nation confronted manufacturing setbacks linked to the worldwide semiconductor scarcity.
Key Chinese language mannequin gross sales embody the A5 (+96.7%), Q7 (+74.4%) and e-tron (+68.7%). Audi Sport mannequin gross sales greater than doubled (+113.4%) yr on yr.
Audi gross sales elevated within the US by 5 per cent to 196,038 in 2021 with electrical car gross sales growing by a major 52.5 per cent over the earlier yr.
Key US market fashions embody the e-tron (+34.6%), Q3 (+26.5%) and Q5 (+19.6%). Audi Sport mannequin gross sales additionally elevated stateside, up by 60.5 per cent to 7796 items – a brand new report for the four-ring model.
Gross sales had been down barely in Europe, falling 0.4 per cent to 617,048. German gross sales dropped 15.6 per cent whereas these in France, Italy and the UK elevated by 10.2, 9.9 and 9.4 per cent respectively.
Throughout its 31 European markets, Audi reported optimistic gross sales efficiency for fashions together with the Q5 (+18.5%), Q3 (+5.6%), A3 (+3.6%) and Q8 (+1.8%).
Nearer to residence, Audi Australia bought a complete of 16,003 items domestically in 2021, which was barely increased (by 135 items or 0.9%) on the earlier yr. The importer’s finest sellers for the 2020 calendar yr included the Q3 (5707 items), Q5 (3604), Q7 (1646) and Q2 (1621).
Regionally, Audi’s gross sales fell behind these of premium rivals akin to BMW (24,891) and Mercedes-Benz (28,348), however outpaced these of Lexus (9290), Volvo (9028) and newcomer Genesis (734).
