The German luxury carmaker sets sights on 2025 growth with new launches and expanding pre-owned car business.
17 Feb 2025 | 2379 Views | By Prerna Lidhoo & Darshan Nakhwa
After seeing a 27% decline in 2024, luxury car maker Audi is targeting an 8-10% growth in 2025, said its head for India, Balbir Singh Dhillon. In 2024, the luxury car market in India is estimated to have grown by around 6% to around 51,200 vehicles.
Speaking to reporters ...
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After seeing a 27% decline in 2024, luxury car maker Audi is targeting an 8-10% growth in 2025, said its head for India, Balbir Singh Dhillon. In 2024, the luxury car market in India is estimated to have grown by around 6% to around 51,200 vehicles.
Speaking to reporters at the launch of the new Audi RS Q8 Performance SUV on Monday, Dhillon said the first half of 2024 was challenging due to supply chain issues. “That is where the degrowth came by. We are anticipating this year to be good. We expect the industry to grow in the range of about 8-10%. That means the industry should be reaching (sales of) 55,000 (units). I believe we will also grow in the same range.”.
According to Dhillon, his company’s growth will be fueled by new launches, network expansion, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction.
Audi’s pre-owned car business – Audi Approved Plus – is also gaining momentum, with sales surging over 30% in 2024, he said. Now a key business vertical, the company expects it to maintain double-digit growth. “We are able to sell pre-owned cars to the customers who are getting into luxury for the first time. And, thereafter, if you are able to convert them also into new car buyers, that is what our endeavour at the end of the day is," Dhillon said.
Dhillon said that Audi Approved Plus is going to be one of the key focus areas in 2025. “If I compare my pre-owned car business to new cars, just in terms of numbers, it is almost at 75%. So, that's also a very strong vertical for us. It's like a win-win for the customers, for ourselves, for the dealers. So, that is what we are trying to expand. As per certain estimates, the pre-owned car business is as big as the new car business,” he said.
He adds that the company is currently unfazed by declining market share. “We are not chasing market share. What is important for us is a sustainable business for us as well as for our partners. Market share is an outcome of whatever we are able to sell in a year. For us, the most important thing is our customer centricity. As long as we are able to attain on a sustainable basis for our dealer partners, for ourselves. Market share is only a by-product,” he said.
Audi operates over 60 touch points across India, including 29 showrooms for new cars, 26 Audi Approved Plus showrooms, and 41 workshops. The company plans to expand further, particularly in smaller markets, with a focus on after-sales services and its Audi Approved Plus business.