Saturday, September 19, 2009
Luxury carmakers bullish on sales
Germany's premium carmakers Audi, BMW and Daimler have forecast improved sales next year.
Rupert Stadler, chief executive at Audi, said: "With the help of our new A1 model, we will be able to increase our sales by at least 10,000 cars in 2010."
This year the manufacturer expects to sell more than 900,000 cars, 10 per cent less than in 2008.
Dieter Zetsche, Daimler's chief executive, expressed similar optimism. He said: "We expect [premium] markets to recover next year and we also expect a positive sales performance for Daimler."
At BMW, head of sales Ian Robertson, said that sales would start to pick up in the fourth quarter. He said: "In the months to come we will see growth again. MINI has already returned on the path to growth."
However, the executives caution that growth will come from a low base as the market for premium cars has shrunk rapidly this year.
DATED: 19.09.09
FEED: AW
