Audi beats Mercedes' global sales figures for the first time in 2010's first three months

Audi recorded its best-ever global sales in 2010’s first quarter, surpassing Mercedes for the first time in the process.

The German firm sold 264,100 units worldwide between January and March; Mercedes sold 248,500 units.

Audi’s sales success is largely being put down to its performance in China, a market that accounted for almost one if five of all its cars sold globally. In China, Audi outsells Mercedes two to one.

Audi wants to surpass both BMW and Mercedes by 2015 and become the world’s leading luxury carmaker with annual sales of 1.5 million units. Its sales will be given a further boost later this year with the launch of the A1 supermini.

BMW is expected to post its results for the first quarter later this month.

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