Audi reports best-ever August U.S. sales |  |
- Audi reports best-ever August U.S. sales
- LMS: Porsche pilots head to the 1000Km of Silverstone final as title favorites
- Volkswagen of America announces 21 percent increase in year to date sales
- Bentley Continental GT to make world on-line debut September 7th
- Volkswagen Group South Africa has big plans
| Audi reports best-ever August U.S. sales Posted: 02 Sep 2010 05:37 AM PDT Audi today maintained its 2010 momentum with record August U.S. sales, which surpassed the prior August record set in 2003 by more than 900 vehicles. August 2010 sales of Audi cars and SUVs climbed 14% compared to August 2009, and marked the best monthly sales performance since May of this year. The August results keep the German luxury automaker on track to set a vehicle sales record in the U.S. by year-end. The existing annual sales record for Audi in the U.S. is 93,506 vehicles sold in 2007.
Overall, Audi sold 9,182 luxury cars and SUVs in August 2010, topping the previous August record of 8,057 vehicles sold in August 2009. Additionally, the automaker posted steady quarter-to-quarter sales increases of more than 5% and nearly 15% over June 2010 and July 2010, respectively. The August 2010 results were buoyed by the continued extraordinary consumer response by year-over-year sales increases for the Audi Q5 crossover and Audi Q7. For the month, Audi sold 2,675 Q5 vehicles, a 78.8% increase over the 1,496 vehicles sold in August 2009. The Q5 line also enjoyed more than a 25% August 2010 sales jump over July 2010. For August 2010, Audi reported Q7 sales of 560, a 42.1% increase above the 394 vehicles sold a year earlier. Through the first two months of the second half of this year, Audi has enjoyed significant sales growth. That gain is largely bolstered by continued consumer demand for the Audi A3, which recorded both a 17.7% uptick in sales for August 2010 and 74.8% calendar year to date. “Audi is in a desirable position in the luxury vehicle market as we continue to post strong U.S. sales,” said Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen. “All indications continue to point toward 2010 winding up as the best year Audi has ever enjoyed in the U.S. market.” Audi sales highlights – August 2010 Audi Q5 and Audi Q7 August sales and news notes Audi A3 and Audi A6 August sales and news notes Audi TDI August sales and news notes Audi Certified Pre-Owned sales and news notes
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| LMS: Porsche pilots head to the 1000Km of Silverstone final as title favorites Posted: 02 Sep 2010 05:19 AM PDT The final of the Le Mans Series is shaping up to be a real thriller. After three victories from four races this season, Porsche factory pilots Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) travel to the last round on 12 September in Silverstone as the clear points’ leaders and title favourites. Driving a Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, they are determined to bring home the last three points from the traditional race track in the British Midlands that they need to successfully defend their GT2 class title. Meanwhile, Porsche has its sights on the manufacturers’ title. Despite their comfortable margin, the 2010 Le Mans winners are not about to take the race in Silverstone lightly. “Right here last year we experienced just how hard it can be when you’re a hair’s breadth away from winning the title. And that’s why we are very cautious about making predictions,” says Marc Lieb, who has already won the Le Mans Series title three times. “In any case, we are very well prepared for the final and the fight against our strongest rivals from Ferrari.” Richard Lietz’s pole position last year on the 5.141 kilometre Grand Prix circuit gave a clear indication that the track suits the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. “The flowing track layout with its challenging high-speed corners as well as the whole atmosphere make this race great fun,” says the Austrian. “Silverstone has a superb sports car tradition, and the enthusiasm of the British fans is an added motivation. Lately our qualifying results have not been as good as those of our rivals. We’re working hard on this so that we can take up the final race from one of the front grid spots.” Driving the second 911 GT3 RSR of the German-Austrian Felbermayr squad, Martin Ragginger (Austria) and Christian Ried (Germany) head to the final ranking third overall in the standings. The two kicked off the season by pocketing a sensational second in Le Castellet and after yielding further top results are even contenders for runner-up honours. Like recently on the Hungaroring, they receive support in Silverstone from Porsche works driver Romain Dumas (France). Just in time for the final, Porsche factory pilot Patrick Pilet and his French compatriot Raymond Narac made the breakthrough. In the cockpit of a 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the IMSA Performance Matmut team, they brought home third from Hungary, their first podium result this season, and moved up the overall rankings to now sit fourth. “At last we’ve been rewarded for all our hard work,” says Patrick Pilet. “We’ve looking even more forward to the final on this fabulous track. How wonderful would it be though to celebrate our first Le Mans Series victory in Silverstone?” ProSpeed Competition is aiming for a good end to a difficult first season in this fiercely-contested championship. Contesting the last race for the Belgian squad are again Richard Westbrook (Great Britain), the FIA GT champion of 2009, as well as Porsche-Junior Marco Holzer (Germany). The 1,000 kilometre race in Silverstone takes place on 12 September at 11.55 hours (12.55 hours CEST). TV station Eurosport broadcasts the race live from 12.30 to 13.45 hours and from 17.45 to 19.00 hours. Fans can follow the action per Live-Timing on www.lemans-series.com. Points’ standings GT2 class Manufacturers - Porsche Motorsport Related posts:
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| Volkswagen of America announces 21 percent increase in year to date sales Posted: 02 Sep 2010 04:38 AM PDT Jetta SportWagen Sets All-Time Sales Records While Passat Has Best Sales Month In Nearly Two Years Volkswagen of America, Inc. today reported that August marked a 21 percent increase in year-to-date sales for their entire line of vehicles. August 2010 sales decreased 7.9 percent when compared with the same time last year, which included historic sales as part of the launch of the U.S. government’s “cash for clunkers” program. The Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen had its best month ever with 2,560 units sold, a 125 percent increase compared with August 2009. The popular Passat also had an exceptional month with 1,669 units sold, marking its best sales month since December 2008 and a 35 percent increase in year-over-year sales growth. The luxurious Volkswagen CC recorded a 31 percent increase in sales compared with the same month last year. Volkswagen’s line of sporty compact vehicles also had a great month as both the Golf and GTI saw increases in sales compared to August 2009. The Golf sold 1,409 units, a 70 percent increase from the same month last year while the GTI saw a 22 percent increase compared with the same time period in 2009. Consumers continued to show their commitment to purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles as Volkswagen’s clean diesel TDI models increasingly gained popularity with the Jetta TDI, Jetta SportWagen TDI, Touareg TDI and Golf TDI all having year-to-year sales increase in August of nearly 25 percent. “We are thrilled to see that more and more car buyers are turning to Volkswagen vehicles to take advantage of our unique combination of German-engineered driving experience, cutting-edge design, fuel economy, and safety,” said Mark Barnes, Interim-President, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We expect to see continued growth in the coming months as we introduce several new models, including the all-new Jetta and Touareg.” - Volkswagen of America, Inc. Related posts:
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| Bentley Continental GT to make world on-line debut September 7th Posted: 01 Sep 2010 04:24 PM PDT Bentley will reveal its new and compelling vision of the Continental GT next month with a unique internet reveal. The studio lights are switched-on and the cameras will start rolling at 1500 British Summer Time on Tuesday 7 September. The week-long public reveal (available both day and night) will be hosted at www.ContinentalGT.com with the opportunity for viewers to enjoy the drama of a formal motor show ‘unveil’ as well as taking several bespoke and virtual tours of the Continental GT by selecting a range of camera angles and distances which are all designed to showcase the Continental’s new sculpted, athletic body and powerful styling lines. The designer behind the styling of the first, groundbreaking Continental GT coupe in 2003 and Bentley’s Design Director Dirk van Braeckel, said: “In 2003 we designed a car like no other – a striking, luxury GT coupe combining the craftsmanship and refinement Bentley is renowned for with a purposeful, sporting road presence. Now we’ve taken the opportunity to write a new chapter for the Continental. The styling and design story in 2010 is just as dramatic and we believe this Bentley GT will be as instantly recognizable as its predecessor. We look forward to the moment the cameras are switched on and sharing the new Continental GT with enthusiasts across the world.” Launched in 2003 the first Continental helped to spearhead Bentley’s renaissance by offering an entirely new driving experience; it was a high-luxury 2+2 GT coupe also delivering remarkable levels of everyday usability and the stirring performance (courtesy of a hugely powerful 6 litre W12 engine offering 552bhp) associated with the Bentley marque. Over 22,000 Continental GT models have been delivered to customers since 2003 and the strength of the original engineering and design proposition inspired Bentley to create a 600bhp GT Speed stablemate, the convertible Continental GTC as well as the recently launched Supersports – a muscular 204mph supercar. - Bentley Motors Related posts:
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| Volkswagen Group South Africa has big plans Posted: 01 Sep 2010 04:05 PM PDT The 2010 FIFA World Cup has come to an end and South Africa was the dream host – no one could have asked for more. However, Volkswagen Group South Africa, the largest employer in the Nelson Mandela Bay region, hasn’t had much time to catch its breath. That’s partly because the company has big plans, and partly because an important anniversary is coming up: almost 60 years ago, in August 1951, the first Beetle made in South Africa left the assembly line. Anyone visiting the state-of-the-art factory in Uitenhage today finds that pretty hard to imagine. When Group Chairman Martin Winterkorn opened a new logistics center near Pretoria during the World Cup he underscored the important role that South Africa plays in Volkswagen’s global growth strategy. Winterkorn used the opportunity offered by a works meeting to say a personal “thank-you” to employees at the Uitenhage plant for their commitment. “South Africa and Volkswagen have been a winning team for a long time,” the CEO said, looking forward to 2011 when VW South Africa celebrates its 60th birthday. Last year already saw several process changes at the plant in preparation for the anniversary. A new production system was introduced at the same time as new assembly technologies made their debut and new buildings went up. Around €140 million was invested in modernizing the plant where the last Citi Golf left the assembly line after 31 years. This year, production of the right-hand drive Polo, CrossPolo and Polo Vivo – the successor to the legendary Citi Golf – is to double to 120,000 units. To that end, an additional €50 million or so is being invested in modernizing and expanding the press shop. As David Powels, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, says: “In the past, Volkswagen South Africa imported over 60 percent of its parts. With the production of the new right-hand drive Polo for global export we are now able to boost the share of parts produced in South Africa quite significantly. Based on 120,000 cars per year, we are raising local content to 70 percent.” Success vindicates VW South Africa’s decision: With a current market share of 23.8 percent, Volkswagen led the field in July, ahead of Hyundai (17.8 percent) and Toyota (12.1 percent). With the Polo Vivo, the company is following in the successful footsteps of the Citi Golf: The Vivo and the Polo top the model statistics. And VW South Africa intends to conquer the market for light commercial vehicles with the Amarok, which will be launched in South Africa in October. One striking feature of a factory tour is the “Learning Academies”. This is where employees train on the product. “We’ve expanded our training activities enormously and we’ve included senior management in the process,” Powels says. Training is one top priority, social responsibility another. This doesn’t end at the factory gates. “Obviously we want to build cars and make a profit. But without an intensive commitment to social responsibility projects we might run short of customers in the future, because it’s only people with jobs who can buy our products,” Powels explains. VW South Africa is a pioneer in the fight against Aids and has been actively committed to the battle against this disease since 2001. Each year, more than 300,000 die of Aids in South Africa. Together with the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa NUMSA and GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit), the company established a workplace program in 2001. The main goals: To treat the victims of the disease, prevent infection, provide free Aids tests for all employees and their partners. Dr. Alex Govender, Manager of Corporate Health Services, has already received international recognition of his commitment, is a member of the Board of Governors at the South African Coalition on HIV/Aids (SABCOHA) and was recently appointed to the Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum. That speaks for itself, but Govender is untiring in his efforts: “There’s still a long way to go.” He still wants to set up a psychological service as well as a factory sports center. - Volkswagen Group Related posts:
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