German Car Zone

Audi Roars Past Mercedes to Third in Korean Sales

Germany’s Audi turned expectations on their head by overtaking Mercedes Benz as the third most popular imported car brand in Korea last month. The Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) on Wednesday said Audi Korea sold 317 cars, taking third place eighteen years after entering the Korean market in 1987. It ranked fourth in August. BMW topped the list with 508 cars sold and Lexus came second with 453.

Honda was No. 4, shunting Mercedes Benz from third place in August to fifth with 312 cars sold. Audi saw car sales grow 498 percent over last September, posting the biggest sales growth in the Top 5.

The jump is due to a positive customer response to the improved design and power of Audi’s major models, especially the A8, as well as a better sales network and service.

Chrysler placed sixth selling 273 units, followed by Volkswagen with 161, Ford with 111, Infinity and Peugeot with 102 apiece, Mini with 80, Volvo with 78, Land Rover with 35, Cadillac with 33, Jaguar with 29, Saab with 18, Porsche with four, Rolls Royce and Maserati with two each. A lone Maybach was also sold.

In total 2,935 imported cars were sold in September, up 50.1 percent from the same month last year and an all-time record. Total imported car sales from January through September were estimated at 21,347 units, up 26.4 percent.

KAIDA’s managing director Yoon Dae-seong said the increase is due to greater diversity of available models and brisk marketing activities.

Source: http://english.chosun.com/w21data/ht...510050019.html

I love how the article states that audi "roars" past mercedes.

According to the article:

"Audi saw car sales grow 498 percent over last September"

That means that Audi sold only 64 cars last September. Quite impressive growth.

The volume there is so low it almost seems silly for anyone selling cars their to boast about sales numbers.

M

Perhaps you can email that Korean newspaper and tell them how silly they are.

If the European market does have a significant sales volume in your opinion you can check here:

http://www.germancarzone.com/showthread.php?t=302 (Top 10 August European car sales.)

The drop of MB may caused by the SsangYong's Chairman, Rexton and Rodius (guess)

http://www.smotor.com/en/showroom/chairman/main.jsp
http://www.smotor.com/en/showroom/rodius/main.jsp

The development of the SsangYong's Chairman is helped by MB (although is an out of date tech, old style)

In 1991, SsangYong signed an agreement with Mercedes for transferring the engine technology and helped it developing light commercial vehicles. This is why you can see many Ssangyong cars and SUVs are equipped with Mercedes straight-sixes.