INGOLSTADT, Germany — Audi sales figures continue to rise at a double-digit rate. In September, the company delivered around 136,600 automobiles to customers worldwide. This represents an increase of 13.6 per cent.

In the first three quarters, around 1,097,500 customers chose a model with the four rings — 12.8 per cent more than in the prior-year period. The past month saw the company benefit from continuing strong growth in the United States (+26.5per cent) and China (+20.5 per cent). Furthermore, AUDI AG yet again grew in Europe, despite the difficult market conditions in some parts of the region — sales were up 7.4 per cent on the corresponding month of 2011. As a result, September saw the Ingolstadt-based company maintain its sales growth in all regions of the world.

"This year, we reached the tally of one million cars sold after just nine months — clear evidence that we are realising our strategic goals in the right way," said Luca de Meo, member of the board of management for marketing and sales at AUDI AG.

"We are seeing our new models succeed in the marketplace, reflecting the tastes of customers," de Meo continued.

Models such as the A1 Sportback, the Q3 and the A6 Avant contributed to growth of 7.4 per cent in Europe compared with the same month of the previous year. Audi, therefore, maintained its pattern of growth in the home market of Germany in September, posting sales growth of 3.5 per cent (20,712 units). Cumulatively, unit sales in Germany after the first nine months of the year reached 198,777 automobiles delivered (+7.4 per cent). The second-largest European market for Audi also reported a clear jump in sales last month. Its sales total in the UK increased by 20 per cent to 22,389 units.