For the first time ever, Volkswagen’s Audi division sold more cars worldwide in a month than did long-time premium brand leader BMW. Now if VW could only sort out its U.S. sales woes, it might put a few more automakers in the rear-view mirror.

Globally Audi sold 151,722 vehicles in May 2014, up 8.6% compared with May 2013. Mercedes sold 145,587 cars in May and BMW sold 137,010. Year to date, BMW holds a slim lead in sales with 725,456, compared with 721,804 for Audi and 719,980 for Mercedes. The data were collected by research firm focus2move.

According to Kelley Blue Book, Audi sold just 16,601 vehicles in the United States in May, compared with 29,602 for BMW and 28,881 for Mercedes. Audi even trails the Lexus division of Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM), which sold 26,921 cars in the United States in May. The Audi brand was ranked 12th overall in worldwide sales.

The best-selling car brand in the world this past May was Toyota, with sales of 706,434 vehicles. Volkswagen finished in second place with 555,878 units sold, and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) was third with 532,940 units sold. The best-selling General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) brand was Chevrolet, finishing fourth with 437,349 units.

Why VW/Audi do so well worldwide and so poorly in the United States should be keeping VW’s management awake nights. For one thing, U.S. buyers like to see some visible changes to their cars every two years; VW updates its look every four years. The VW Passat, which the company launched in 2011 with very good sales, has not fired up U.S. buyers for at least a year and probably longer. There is also the issue we have noted about the quality of VW’s cars. Researchers at J.D. Power have VW cars rated between 28th and 32nd place in their reliability rankings. About the only good news for VW in the United States is that it has stopped losing money here.

ALSO READ: Ten Cars Americans Don’t Want to Buy

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.