Audi Global Sales in July Rise

Luxury automaker Audi AG said Thursday that its global sales in July rose 2.1 percent from a year ago, as demand in China helped stem a wider decline , BusinessWeek reports.

Photo: Audi Global Sales in July Rise

"In recent months we've bolstered our brand worldwide by investing wisely, and with our sales success in July we further increased the pressure on the competition," Audi sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said in the statement.

Pointing to the first-half operating profit of 823 million euros ($1.18 billion), he added: "Our financial data show that we are not only achieving impressive sales figures, but that our business is above all profitable; our encouraging development is long-lasting." , Reuters reports.

However, sales increased 37 percent last month in Asian and Pacific countries to 16,500 cars and SUVs, also helped by growth in Japan, Australia and South Korea. Deliveries in Audi’s home market of Germany increased 0.3 percent to 23,404 vehicles. Western European sales declined 2.4 percent. U.S. sales fell 5.8 percent, Audi said, reiterating figures released on Aug. 3 , Bloomberg reports.