Audi India sales up by 126 per cent in Q1 2023
Audi India reported the highest-ever first-quarter sales between January to March 2023. It witnessed a 126 per cent sales growth in the past six years, registering sales of 1,950 units in Q1 this year compared to 862 units sold in the same period of 2022. On the other hand, Audi Approved Plus, the carmaker's used-car business, also reported the strongest-ever sales of 50 per cent in the first quarter of 2023.
Audi India Q1 2023 sales
Out of all 1,950 new cars delivered in Q1, Audi's SUV range constituted 60 per cent of the overall sales. Its SUV portfolio comprises a variety of vehicles, such as the Q3, Q3 Sportback, Q5, Q7, Q8, e-tron, and e-tron Sportback. The sports car range, including the RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, RS5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback, along with the A4, A6, and the flagship A8 L, saloons were also in demand.
Audi Approved: Plus
In other news, Audi India plans to expand the footprint of its pre-owned car business, knowns as Audi Approved: Plus. It aims to have more than 25 Approved: Plus used-car showrooms by the end of this year. Audi currently operates 22 Approved: Plus showrooms across key cities in the country.
Audi India line-up
The carmaker sells 15 distinctive offerings in India, including a wide range of electric vehicles (EVs), namely the A4, A6, A8 L, Q3, Q3 Sportback, Q5, Q7, Q8, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback, RS Q8, e-tron 50, e-tron 55, e-tron Sportback 55, e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT.
"We have witnessed strong growth of 126 per cent in Q1 2023 compared to the same period last year. Our product line-up boasts of sixteen models and we currently have the strongest-ever SUV portfolio contributing to over 60 per cent of our total sales (in Q1, 2023). The newly launched Audi Q3 and Audi Q3 Sportback are witnessing strong demand from across the country. We are on a growth path and are confident of a bullish performance through the year 2023," said Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head, Audi India.
India-bound Audi Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback
In late 2022, Audi previewed the Q8 e-tron at the E-Cannonball event in Hamburg, Germany. Notably, the Q8 e-tron was previously called only the e-tron. While this mid-cycle facelift has brought a few subtle changes to its design, the most significant upgrades have been done to its electric powertrain and the battery pack.
The Q8 e-tron gets an 89kWh battery pack, whereas the Q8 e-tron 55 and SQ8 e-tron feature a larger 106kWh unit. The range varies depending on the model and trim. However, the highest claimed driving range of the SUV is rated at 600km. Both the Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback are expected to arrive in the country sometime later this year.