RCanada and U.S. generated strong demands for the new Audi Q3 which will be available for sale in Brunei soon

“Our model initiative is gaining traction globally at the year-end,” says Hildegard Wortmann, Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG. “North America has been reaping the benefits of the full availability of the new Audi Q3 for the past few months; the two electric models, the Audi e-tron and Audi Q2 L e-tron*, as well as the Audi Q8 bolstered our portfolio in November in China. Despite the increasingly difficult environment, we therefore still expect our deliveries to customers to perform robustly and to see slight growth for 2019 as a whole.”

Deliveries in Europe increased to around 707,650 cars since January, a year-on-year increase of 2.2 percent. The sharp increase of 33.0 percent to around 58,300 units in November is once again also down to prior-year effects associated with the WLTP switchover and model changeovers. In Germany, Audi handed over 19,526 cars to customers in November, an increase of 24.3 percent. Deliveries rose 4.1 percent to 253,443 cars since January. The Audi Q3 (23,303 cars, +67.7%), the Audi A6 (41,899, +18.4%) and the Audi Q8 (5,751 cars, +131.2%) contributed positively to growth in the domestic market.

The North America region saw deliveries increase in November to a new record-breaking figure of 25,230 cars (+17.3%), with around 241,100 vehicles delivered to customers (-3.3%) since the start of the year. In the United States, deliveries increased by 20.7 percent to 20,618 cars in November. Audi delivered 198,261 cars in the United States since January, almost on a par with the prior-year figure (-1.1%). Deliveries in Canada were once again up in November (3,416 cars, +4.4%), with the company delivering 31,829 cars (-10.0%) since the start of the year. Both countries generated strong demand in November for the new Audi Q3, which went on sale in July, (USA: 2,497 cars, +256.7%; Canada: 929 cars; +231.8%) along with the new Audi Q8, which remains market leader in its segment.

In China, 67,402 cars delivered (+16.8%) in November set a new record-breaking figure. Cumulative deliveries were up 3.5 percent to 618,596 units. Growth was driven in part by the high demand for the A6 L (16,559 cars; +9.3%). The Audi Q2 L was also introduced in China as an all-electric model in November. Apart from the locally produced Audi Q2 L e-tron, the Audi e-tron also went on sale in China in the middle of last month.

Five stars for the Audi Q3 in Euro NCAP test

The new Audi Q3 offers bumper-to-bumper safety: The compact family SUV earned the top score of five stars in the Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), one of the most important automobile safety tests in Europe.

To get the highest rating of five stars, a car has to score in all key Euro NCAP criteria. The new Audi Q3 succeeded in doing so with flying colors – in the category adult occupant protection as well as for child safety, vulnerable road user protection and driver assistance systems. The actively supporting safety systems – which include automatic emergency braking for city traffic and for highways – are included in the overall NCAP assessment with a 40% weighting for adult occupant, 20% weighting for vulnerable road users and 20% weighting for safety assist.

The new Audi Q3 has these technologies on board. The safety systems Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense front are standard equipment. The latter provides the driver with a visual, audible and haptic warning when critical situation involving pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles are detected via radar. It even initiates emergency braking if necessary. Also included as standard equipment is Audi side assist, which warns of hazards when changing lanes Audi active lane assist is also standard. This system helps to prevent the vehicle from leaving its lane unintentionally. The optional assistance package bundles the adaptive cruise assist, camera-based traffic sign recognition, parking system plus, high-beam assist and emergency assist.

The new Audi Q3 is also tops when it comes to passenger protection. Components made of hot-shaped steel form the backbone of the passenger cell. They are used primarily at the transition from the longitudinal members to the bulkhead, in the center tunnel, the sills, the A- and B-pillars, the roof frame and the rear longitudinal members. The hot-shaped components, which combine low weight with extreme strength, comprise 26% of the body by weight. Their combination lays the foundation for high crash safety and rigidity. 

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is supported by a consortium of European transport ministries, automobile clubs, insurance associations and research institutes. Twelve institutions from eight European countries are involved. Almost all new vehicles are tested and rated on their passive and active safety in the Euro NCAP. The program’s test requirements considerably exceed the applicable standards required under European legislation.