Audi, the premium brand of Volkswagen AG (VOWG.DE), reported a 2.9% decline in global vehicle deliveries in 2025, citing challenges from tariffs, a competitive market environment, and broader macroeconomic pressures. The automaker delivered 1.62 million vehicles worldwide, down from 1.67 million units in 2024, and slightly below its earlier target of 1.65 million to 1.75 million units.

Regional Performance Highlights

Audi’s delivery performance varied significantly across regions:

• North America: Deliveries dropped 12.2%, reflecting the impact of tariffs, supply chain constraints, and high competition in the premium segment.
• China: Vehicle deliveries fell 5%, despite strong market potential, as local competitors expanded aggressively and government policies affected pricing.
• Germany (Home Market): Audi achieved 4% growth, demonstrating solid domestic demand and brand loyalty.
• Overseas and Emerging Markets: Deliveries increased 5.5%, boosted by new model launches and expanding market presence.

Despite the overall decline, Audi noted a positive trend starting in September 2025, with monthly deliveries rising year-on-year, indicating a potential recovery in the latter part of the year.

Electric Vehicle Growth Drives Optimism

Audi continues to see strong momentum in its fully electric vehicle (EV) segment. Global deliveries of electric models rose 36% to 223,000 units, while orders for EVs jumped around 58% year-on-year. This growth highlights Audi’s commitment to electrification and its efforts to compete in the rapidly expanding global EV market.

The company also reported a 13% increase in total orders for 2025, signaling healthy demand despite the overall delivery decline.

Challenges Facing Audi

Audi has faced multiple pressures over the past year:

• Macroeconomic environment: Global inflation, fluctuating consumer demand, and trade restrictions have impacted sales.
• Restructuring costs: Ongoing operational restructuring has added to financial pressures.
• Technological setbacks: Delays in new vehicle launches and innovations have affected the pace of deliveries.

These factors contributed to Audi revising its full-year forecast twice in 2025, reflecting the challenging business environment for premium automakers.

Strategic Outlook

Looking forward, Audi aims to leverage its electric vehicle portfolio and expanding presence in emerging markets to regain momentum. The company’s success in the EV segment, combined with recovery trends in key regions, is expected to support stronger delivery growth in 2026 and beyond.

Industry analysts highlight that Audi’s delivery performance underscores the competitive pressures in the global premium automotive market, particularly from other luxury brands and rapidly growing electric vehicle startups in Europe, China, and North America.

Conclusion

While Audi’s overall 2025 deliveries declined, the growth in EV sales, increased order volumes, and positive trends in the second half of the year indicate potential recovery. The company remains focused on electrification, global expansion, and operational efficiency to maintain its position as a leading premium car manufacturer in a challenging global market.