Audi closes in on BMW as race for top slot hots up

The race for the top slot in the Indian luxury car market is hotting up with German maker Audi fast catching up with leader BMW after surpassing compatriot Mercedes Benz in April-June period this year.

According to figures released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, Audi's sales in the first three months of the fiscal have jumped by 52.15 per cent to 1,908 units from 1,254 units in the year-ago period.

On the other hand, sales of market leader BMW declined by 12.16 per cent to 2,088 units as against 2,377 units in the same period last year, it added.

The second largest luxury car maker Mercedes Benz too witnessed 24.41 per cent fall in its sales at 1,257 units compared to 1,663 units in April-June in 2011.

In June, however, Audi's sales surpassed that of BMW by selling 759 vehicles compared to 750

units of the rival.

In the same month last year Audi's sales were at 354 units, while that of BMW were 890 units.

On the other hand, sales of Mercedes Benz stood at 622 units in June this year compared to 566 units in the year-ago month, it added.

Since the second half of last year, the German luxury car makers had not made public their sales in India due to anti-trust issues in Europe.

They have resumed submitting their sales data to SIAM from June this year.

Last month, Audi India head Michael Perschke had stated that the company was confident of overtaking BMW as the market leader in India by 2014, a year ahead of the company's original plans.