How Audi plans to turn around its 2019 sales slump

After a challenging 2019, Audi Australia is planning to turn its new car sales frown upside down in 2020 with a mammoth new product assault.

The company’s corporate communications manager, Shaun Cleary, told CarsGuide constrained supply of key models was behind the brand’s 25.6 per cent decline in year-on-year new car sales to the end of October.

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Audi RS Q8 detailed

Mr Cleary confirmed engineering and validation work required to comply with Euro 6 emissions standards under Europe’s new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) protocols meant some models had arrived here much later than anticipated.

Audi RS Q3.

“A1 and Q3 are good examples. We started selling out of those in 2018, and we were pretty much sold out in January (2019), so we’ve not had those models until very recently,” he said.

“The A6 45 TFSI variant is one of those as well. And we’ve also had the Q7, which was unavailable for sale until August.

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“We’re certainly expecting growth from here and what we have over the next 12 to 18 months, particularly throughout next year, is a huge product pipeline coming through.

“Not only the models that we’ve been really missing, like A1, Q3, and Q7 being back on sale, but we have a whole suite of new product; the Q3 Sportback, which is the first ever, will be here in the second quarter of 2020.

Audi RS6 and RS7.

“Then we have facelifted Q7, A4 and A5 facelift, and RS3 returning. We’ve been without that since the end of 2018, again due to WLTP delays.”

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More equipment confirmed for Audi's sporty trio

Audi has also confirmed the new S6 and S7 for the second quarter of 2020. Powered by a 331kW/600Nm 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, complete with 48-volt mild hybrid system, the eight-speed auto quattro models are claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in around 4.5sec.

But then Mr Cleary added: “There’s also RS6 Avant, RS7, RS4, the first RS Q3, the first RS Q8, as well as brand builders like e-tron and e-tron Sportback in the second half of (2020).”

Audi RS Q8.