Audi profit falls 25 pc during first half

BERLIN: German luxury automaker Audi AG said Friday its profit for the first six months of the year fell 25 percent as sales slipped nearly 10 percent but, unlike most of its peers, it remained profitable.

The unit of Volkswagen AG said its first-half net profit was ``in the region'' of euro697 million ($979.5 million) compared with euro930 million in the first six months of 2008. Sales totaled euro14.5 billion, down 16 percent from euro17.4 billion last year.

Second quarter figures were not immediately available.