Audi claims 27pc share of top market

Dane Fisher says Audi plans to spend $25 million to boost its presence. Photo / Brett Phibbs

German car manufacturer Audi is racing ahead in the New Zealand market, celebrating its best half year on record.

Audi general manager Dane Fisher said sales for the six months to June 30 exceeded expectations and the company now has a 27 per cent share of the premium automobile market, ahead of brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus. "In 2007 we became number one in the luxury vehicle segment and we've held it for 4 years and as well as doing that we had our biggest first six months [of the year] ever, exceeding the previous record which was in
2007," Fisher said.

As sales surge ahead, the company has moved into a new Giltrap Prestige dealership in Grey Lynn, which opened last night.

With Audi making strong local gains, Fisher said the company planned to spend $25 million over the next three years to boost its presence around the country.

The car brand's boom shines a positive light on New Zealand's economic situation, Fisher said.

"The thing that is interesting about the luxury market in New Zealand is that the people who buy our cars tend to be the owners of small to medium businesses and captains of industry, directors and so forth. Those people see the pain coming a lot earlier than most and so when the recession comes, they see that change is on the horizon and luxury cars are one of the first things they stop spending on," he said. "I'm not saying the future is incredibly bright,
because there are tough times ahead, but we're seeing improvements ahead of the wider market."

Passenger car registration figures for last year showed 1281 Audis were sold.