Audi Posts Any-Month Sales Record

Audi AG sales in March rose 4% to 178,000 units, its largest volume for any month in history.

Results were buoyed by a 20% jump to 17,100 deliveries in U.S. Audi's sales advanced 2% to 90,700 vehicles in Europe and 2% to 48,400 units in China, including Hong Kong.

Audi's worldwide volume in January-March 2014 climbed 6% to a record 438,300 vehicles, the company's best quarter ever. Sales for the period remained ahead of rival Mercedes-Benz, whose first-quarter total was 429,600 units. Segment leader BMW AG has not yet reported results.

Audi says its first-quarter sales were bolstered by strong demand for its A3 small car family (up 44%), Q3 small crossover and large A6 sedan. The Volkswagen Group unit expects to maintain its momentum, aided in part by the debut of its new Q7 large crossover in the second half of the year.