Audi reports a sales decline

The German automotive manufacturer Audi reported a 6.1% drop in vehicle deliveries to 360,106 units in the first quarter of 2026, according to Reuters. The main reason for the sales slump is weaker demand in key markets, including China and North America. In China, deliveries fell by 12% to 127,109 vehicles, due to a weakening automotive market and the phasing out of government support programs. An even steeper decline was recorded in North America, where deliveries dropped by 27% to 35,464 vehicles, negatively impacted particularly by U.S. import tariffs and regulatory changes. There is also positive data for Audi: Europe saw significant growth, with deliveries rising by 5.9% to 123,724 vehicles, allowing the German company to offset some losses incurred in other regions. In other international markets, sales fell by 6.3%, attributed to geopolitical tensions and weaker demand in the Middle East. These figures highlight the ongoing challenges for European carmakers in key global markets, with China becoming an increasingly difficult market while trade barriers and political factors in North America also affect sales dynamics