Luxury Autos are Selling Again

Bloomberg reported this afternoon, that luxury auto sales were up big last month. Volkswagen AG’s U.S. sales of its Audi brand rose 34 percent in February, leading an increase in demand for luxury autos.

Audi deliveries climbed to 6,216, pushed up by more than a doubling in sales of its A3 compact hatchback and A5 models and a 21 percent rise in its best-selling A4 sedan, the company said.

“Advertising can make a product and Audi has the positioning to do that with their ads saying they are growing faster than BMW and Lexus,” said Stephanie Brinley, an analyst with AutoPacific Inc. in Troy, Michigan. “Audi is in a nice space right now in consumer perception and sales.”

Audi ran ads during the Super Bowl. BMW, based in Munich, and said sales for its namesake brand gained 16 percent. Daimler AG’s Mercedes, (NYSE: DAI) rose 4.7 percent.

In a good omen for GM, Cadillac reported a 32% percent increase to 9,273 on demand for its SRX sport-utility vehicle.

“Our Cadillac SRX retail sales are up 490 percent and combined with the CTS sport wagon, Cadillac is bringing in more import owners who recognize the superior value of this luxury brand,” said Susan Docherty, GM’s marketing chief, in a call with reporters and analysts today.

Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln luxury brand rose 19 percent to 6,681.

Sales at Honda Motor Co.’s Acura brand rose 17 percent.

Nissan Motor Co.’s Infiniti sales rose 11 percent, also.

Tata Motors Ltd. said sales for the Mumbai-based company’s Jaguar and Land Rover brands rose 11 percent to 2,793 for the month.