Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler: “There is no alternative to the euro”

Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler strongly advocates a common economic and finance policy in Europe at the World Economic Forum in Davos: “From a global perspective, only a united Europe will be competitive in the long run.” Representatives from business, politics and science are meeting for the 42nd time in the Swiss winter resort to discuss a better future.

“The rescue of the euro is currently the decisive topic, not just for us Europeans, but for many regions with close economic ties to us,” emphasizes Stadler. The Audi chairman does not consider solving the crisis to be the responsibility of politics alone. What is needed now more than ever is responsible, future-oriented and sustainable business activity to bolster mutual trust within Europe and to consolidate the European national economies. “We need a strong European economic region if we are to be competitive from a global perspective. There is no alternative to the euro,” says Stadler.

Audi established the Audi Urban Future Initiative in 2011 to identify and promote pathways to a sustainable and responsible future. At the World Economic Forum, the company is therefore presenting new ideas that architects, urban planners, politicians and energy suppliers have developed for the urban mobility of the future at this interdisciplinary exchange in the Audi Lounge – CO2-neutral, networked with the surroundings and driverless, if necessary.

The Audi A2 concept technology study on display in the Audi Pavilion at Lake Davos also offers a tangible peek at the electric mobility in the megacities of the future. Participants in the Forum can also experience the new driving feeling for themselves. The Audi A6 Avant hybrid and the Audi A3 e-tron, for example, are available for test drives at the Audi Pavilion. Under the watchful eye of instructors from the Audi driving experience, they will also have the opportunity to test and improve their driving skills on snow and ice in, among other vehicles, one of six Audi Q5 hybrid quattro models provided by Audi.

Audi has been the exclusive shuttle partner of the World Economic Forum since 1987. This year’s fleet once again fulfills the strict guidelines of the “Towards a Greener Davos” initiative. With emissions of 171 g CO2/km, the Audi sedans are well below the limit of 200 g CO2/km set for Davos. The company is providing a total of 86 Audi A8 L and 13 armored high-security vehicles for the shuttle service in Davos.