The release of the Audi data, showing sales rising to about 81,000 compared to 74,296 for the same month last year, followed the publication of robust sales figures for the carmaker’s archrivals, BMW and Mercedes Benz.

Despite concerns about higher oil prices and the uncertain outlook facing the global economy, Audi, which is the luxury auto offshoot of Europe’s biggest carmaker Volkswagen, said car sales have jumped 9.7% since January to 590,200 vehicles. “We have continued our growth in all the key markets worldwide,” said Audi chief sales director Ralph Weyler when releasing the results. Particularly strong were deliveries in China, where sales bounded ahead by about 37% in July.

Munich-based BMW, which is the world’s leading premium brand, said earlier this month that it expects July sales to have increased by about 20% and for sales to have increased by about 6.0% during the January-July period. Meanwhile, DaimlerChrysler flagship Mercedes-Benz said deliveries rose 1.2% in July to 93,800 units and gained 1.7% in the period from January to July. (monstersandcritics.com)