The new Audi Q3 Sportback has been introduced in India at an ex-showroom price of Rs 51.43 lakh.
German luxury carmaker Audi is eyeing high double-digit growth in 2023 after reporting a 27% rise in sales of new cars in 2022, a top executive said. This is expected to be the highest ever sales in the luxury car segment in the country this year, he added.
The company on Monday introduced the new Audi Q3 Sportback in India, with prices starting at ₹51.43 lakh ex-showroom, completing the product portfolio for the year.
The Audi Q3 Sportback, the top-end variant of the highly successful Q3, is the first compact crossover from the Audi brand in India. Audi India had earlier introduced two other variants of the Q3, Premium Plus and Technology Edition.
The response to the new Q3 variant gives us confidence that our growth for this year will be strong in double digits. Audi India head Balbir Singh Dhillon says if things continue as they are, this will be the best year ever for the luxury car segment.
“The Audi Q3 has been the segment leader and we are confident that the new Audi Q3 Sportback will repeat its popularity among customers,” Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head, Audi India, said in an interview.
“The success of the Audi Q3, which we launched last year, has inspired us to introduce the new Audi Q3 Sportback and we are confident of its success in the country,” he added.
“The response to the new Q3 variant gives us confidence that our growth for this year will be in strong double digits. If things remain the same, this will be the best year yet for the luxury car segment,” Mr Dhillon said.
He said the luxury car segment had crossed 40,000 unit sales in 2018, but the number came down in the next two years due to Covid.
“But last year, the volumes ended at around 38,000 units. So, it comes very close to the strongest year ever. So, if things go on, 2023 will be the best year ever in terms of sales.”
He added that the company’s pre-owned car business is actually growing much faster than the new car business. While the company’s new car business grew by 27% last year, the pre-owned car business grew by 62%.
“Three years back, we had only seven showrooms, now we have 22 showrooms. This signifies the success of our pre-owned car business,” said Mr. Dhillon.