German carmaker Audi, the top-of-the-range subsidiary of European auto giant Volkswagen, said on March 12 it booked record sales in 2012 and hopes to achieve further growth this year. Audi said in a statement that it sold a record 1.455 million cars world-wide last year, 11.7 percent more than in 2011.
That meant revenues increased by 10.6 percent to 48.78 billion euros ($63.4 billion) and operating profit edged up by 0.6 percent to 5.38 billion euros, both new records, Audi said.
"Despite tangible fallout from the debt crisis in a number of countries and a shrinking overall market in Europe, we achieved record levels of output, deliveries, revenues and earnings," the carmaker boasted.
"2012 was a very successful year for us. We surpassed all our goals and with Ducati added a very attractive premium brand to our brand portfolio," said chief executive Rupert Stadler. Nevertheless, while operating profit rose, pre-tax profit declined by 1.4 percent to 5.956 billion euros due to increased distribution and marketing costs.
Stadler said Audi "aims to grow further in 2013 as well." The group is pencilling in "a slight increase in sales revenues," he said.
"Profits will benefit from the targeted increase in unit sales, as well as the ongoing measures to boost productivity and efficiency," Stadler added.