AUTOSHOW-Audi sees U.S. car market rebound in H2 2009

PARIS, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG.DE) premium auto division Audi expects the U.S. car market to snap out of its slump by the second half of next year, Audi sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said on Thursday.

"The Americans have an optimistic attitude. They dislike talking about crises. We expect the (presidential) elections to improve the mood so a recovery could already begin in the second half of 2009," he told reporters at the Paris car show.

He said Audi global sales rose 12.2 percent in September to 95,087 units. (Reporting by Christiaan Hetzner) (michael.shields@thomsonreuters.com, Reuters Messaging: michael.shields.reuters.com@reuters.net; +49 69 7565 1266))