NEW DELHI: Buoyed by good sales growth, German car maker Audi today said it is confident of dethroning rival BMW as the number one in luxury segment in India by 2014, a year ahead of its original target.
"If everything goes well according to our plan and strategy, we will become the market leader by 2014," Audi India Head Michael Perschke told reporters here.
The company had earlier announced its target to achieve the numero uno position in the Indian market by 2015.
In 2011, BMW had sold 9,371 units, while Mercedes Benz and Audi had sold 7,430 units and 5,511 units respectively.
"We have already become the number two in this year by replacing our competitor Mercedes-Benz. We have our product plans ready till 2019. So we are very confident that we will be able to replace the current number one," he claimed.
While it is estimated that Audi may have become second behind BMW after overtaking Mercedes Benz in this year, it cannot be ascertained how much is the gap between the three German rivals as BMW and Mercedes Benz have stopped publishing their sales data due to anti-trust issues in Europe.
Audi India has registered a growth of 37.09 per cent in January-May period this year at 3,282 units.
Perschke said Audi is looking at over 45 per cent sales growth this year with an aim to sell over 8,000 units.
The company is betting big on its latest small sports utility vehicle Q3, which will be produced in India from next year.
"Within five days of the launch of the Q3, we have received bookings of 500 units. This year, we are looking to sell 1,000-1,200 units of the SUV," Perschke said.
In the next six months, the company is looking to sell 200 units of Q3 every month that is likely to go up further next year, he added.
Talking about new products, Perschke said the company is considering to bring the sedan A3 in India, which would have to be assembled at the Aurangabad plant in Maharashtra in order to make it price competitive.
"The A3 sedan is something to be discussed for 2014," Perschke said.
He further said the company has an installed production capacity of 6,000-6,500 units annually that will go up to 9,000-9,500 units in next year.
The company is planning to expand its dealership network to over 25 by the end of this year from 19 at present.
"This number will further go up in future. We plan to have 35 dealers by the end of next year," Perschke said.
"If everything goes well according to our plan and strategy, we will become the market leader by 2014," Audi India Head Michael Perschke told reporters here.
The company had earlier announced its target to achieve the numero uno position in the Indian market by 2015.
In 2011, BMW had sold 9,371 units, while Mercedes Benz and Audi had sold 7,430 units and 5,511 units respectively.
"We have already become the number two in this year by replacing our competitor Mercedes-Benz. We have our product plans ready till 2019. So we are very confident that we will be able to replace the current number one," he claimed.
While it is estimated that Audi may have become second behind BMW after overtaking Mercedes Benz in this year, it cannot be ascertained how much is the gap between the three German rivals as BMW and Mercedes Benz have stopped publishing their sales data due to anti-trust issues in Europe.
Audi India has registered a growth of 37.09 per cent in January-May period this year at 3,282 units.
Perschke said Audi is looking at over 45 per cent sales growth this year with an aim to sell over 8,000 units.
The company is betting big on its latest small sports utility vehicle Q3, which will be produced in India from next year.
"Within five days of the launch of the Q3, we have received bookings of 500 units. This year, we are looking to sell 1,000-1,200 units of the SUV," Perschke said.
In the next six months, the company is looking to sell 200 units of Q3 every month that is likely to go up further next year, he added.
Talking about new products, Perschke said the company is considering to bring the sedan A3 in India, which would have to be assembled at the Aurangabad plant in Maharashtra in order to make it price competitive.
"The A3 sedan is something to be discussed for 2014," Perschke said.
He further said the company has an installed production capacity of 6,000-6,500 units annually that will go up to 9,000-9,500 units in next year.
"This number will further go up in future. We plan to have 35 dealers by the end of next year," Perschke said.
