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Audi AG held its annual general meeting today in Germany and reported record sales and profits for the fiscal year. Worldwide Audi sold 1,092,411 vehicles, which puts it just behind Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Audis goal is to overtake its two arch rivals and sell 1. 5 million vehicles a year by 2015. Audi still leads the premium market in China, which is now the worlds largest new-car market, with sales of 227,900 cars and SUVs in 2010, an impressive 43 percent gain over the previous year. Audi is also doing well in the U. S. with sales last year topping 100,000 vehicles for the first time. In a separate press conference Johan de Nysschen, President of Audi of America, said the company plans to increase sales to 150,000 vehicles per year in the US by 2015. At that time it will also study the feasibility of building an assembly plant in the US. We dont want to be the top-selling luxury brand in the U. S. de Nysschen stated. He claims Audi wants to be the most successful in terms of customer satisfaction and overall profitability. Due to the current sale success he says there is currently a shortage of some vehicles. Diesel powered Audi models are selling well in the U. S. and Audi says it will bring clean diesel TDI versions of the A8, A6 and Q5 to the U. S. within the next couple of years. A diesel version of the best selling A4 will have to wait for the next generation model, which is not due until around 2015. As if to emphasize Audis success in the U. S. the all-important residual value of Audi models for leasing is now at 52. 8 percent compared to 50. 8 percent for BMW and 49. 3 percent for Mercedes-Benz. Audi has not made a decision yet, publicly at least, as to when the well-received Audi A3 sedan, which was shown as a concept at the Geneva Auto Show last week will go on sale. However de Nysschen said it was designed at Volkswagens design studio in Santa Monica with American buyers in mind. He also said that, since the A4 has naturally grown in size and price, there is room for a smaller and less expensive sedan in Audis lineup.
