Your Guide to Audi in South Africa

Formally known as Auto Union, Audi is a luxury automotive brand from Ingolstadt, Germany. August Horch founded the company in 1932, alongside DKW and Wanderer. Volkswagen acquired Auto Union in the 1960s and relaunched the brand under the banner, Audi. The four rings in the current Audi logo represent the merger of the Horch, DKW, Wanderer, and Auto Union brands. Like many other German-based manufacturers, Audi was forced to hand over their production plants for military use during World War II. Following the Soviet Union control of East Germany, Audi relocated to Ingolstadt, situated in West Germany. Audi’s global popularity started growing once more following their relaunch, but their international recognition grew when they introduced the Audi Quattro model in the World Rally Championship. The four-wheel drive rally car blitzed through the forests of Europe to set a new standard in international motorsport. They continued their success with years of domination in the 24-hour Le Mans and various other motorsport categories.

Simply put, buying an Audi vehicle is considered to be an experience, with the brand setting a high standard for customer service. Their range of vehicles includes the popular A1 and A3 hatchback models, the A3, A4 and A6 premium sedans, and the A6 and A7 sedan models with their unique design aspect. Their SUV offerings range from the compact Q2 and Q3 to the stately Q5 and Q7 models. Their flagship, the A8, is seen as their premium executive sedan that usually sets the trend for their entire brand. Without forgetting racing enthusiasts, Audi offers their familiar S and RS models in each segment. Their ultimate performance car is the R8, a show-stopping supercar made famous in various Hollywood movies such as Iron Man. With 40 registered Audi dealerships and service centres located across South Africa, and one in Namibia, Audi drivers are never far away from brand support.

Audi South Africa sells over 700 units a month on average, according to the Naamsa Sales Report. Here is a summary of their overall sales per month from March-August 2018: Month – Units Sold March – 782 April – 625 May – 789 June – 706 July – 743 August – 743 According to various reviews by South African automotive journalists, Audis are considered to be comfortable and practical and offer a great driving experience. You may want to keep this in mind the next time you’re looking to buy a vehicle or hire a car. Car rental agencies do offer Audi models within high-end segments.