Boom in Audi production – further expansion of production capacities

Record production and continued growth: in the past year, Audi increased production by 23.4 percent compared with 2009 to a total of 1,148,791 cars. This is the greatest number of cars ever built in a single year in the Company’s history. The carmaker has a total of 13 production starts planned for 2011, including the Audi Q3 in Martorell (Spain), and the new Audi A6 in Neckarsulm (Germany). Audi will begin a plant expansion this year in Győr (Hungary) for another A3 derivative. In addition, a decision should be reached by 2015 regarding possible production capacities in the United States.

“We are proud that we, along with our dedicated team and our effective Audi Production System (APS), have so successfully met the challenges of 2010,” said Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG. “Our production figures are higher than ever before at our German sites in Ingolstadt und Neckarsulm. This sets a good foundation for us to tackle the upcoming challenges that are part of our growth strategy,” Dreves continued.

All Audi sites recorded significant production growth in the past year. The Ingolstadt plant achieved its highest volume to date, with a total of 553,010 cars (up 7.5 percent). The Neckarsulm site increased production by 21.7 percent to 216,322 cars, and following the successful launches of the R8 Spyder, the Audi A8 and A8L, and the A7, is now focusing on the start of the new Audi A6 Sedan. In addition, both sites made significantly higher volumes of parts sets for production in China and India (see the overview of company sites). In Brussels (Belgium) production of the Audi A1 was successfully launched.

“The Audi growth strategy provides long-term security for our sites and for the jobs of the employees who work there,” emphasized Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council of AUDI AG. “Without their dedication, Audi would not have been able to cope with the economic crisis of 2009 as well as it did. The employees worked very hard in 2010. This resulted in more production and higher sales. Audi has emerged from the crisis stronger than ever. We want to continue following this path in the future as well.”

Dreves announced that production will continue to be expanded this year. The successor to the top-selling A6 model is already in the starting blocks at the Neckarsulm plant. This spring, series production of the Audi Q3 begins in Martorell, where there is enough capacity to produce more than 100,000 units annually. Following completion of the planned expansion at Audi Hungaria, another A3 derivative will begin rolling off the assembly line there in 2013. Production capacity at the Győr plant will then total 125,000 units. In addition, a decision should be reached by 2015 regarding a possible Audi production site in the United States.

Overview of company sites

Ingolstadt plant
Production of 553,010 cars (A3, A4, A5, Q5 including derivatives; up 7.5 percent), as well as a paint shop and body shop for Audi TT and A3 Cabriolet (assembly at Audi Hungaria). Added to this are 105,341 parts sets for automotive production as part of the FAW-VW joint venture at the plant in Changchun (China) and at the Group plant in Aurangabad (India) up 103.9 percent.
This means: a total of 658,351 units (up 16.3 percent).

Neckarsulm plant
Production of 216,322 cars (A4, A5 Cabriolet, A6, A7, A8, R8 including derivatives, up 21.7 percent), as well as 118,761 parts sets for automotive production as part of the FAW-VW joint venture at the plant in Changchun, and in the Group plant in Aurangabad (up 18.4 percent).
This means: a total of 335,083 units (up 20.5 percent).

Audi Hungaria, Győr
Production of 38,541 cars (assembly of the TT Coupé, TT Roadster, A3 Cabriolet and RS 3 Sportback; up 18.2 percent), as well as 1,648,030 engines (up 19.1 percent).

Audi Brussels, Belgium
Production of 68,939 Audi cars (A1 starting in May 2010, A3 until May 2010, up 189.8 percent).

Bratislava, Slovakia
Production of 47,769 Audi Q7 models (up 71.0 percent).