The decision has
been made: the new Audi Q5 will be built in Germany. The new model
will start rolling off the production line at Ingolstadt in 2008.
To that end, around EUR 300 million will be invested in the production
facilities over the next years.
The Audi Q7 - photo - will get a smaller version,
the Q5 in 2008
Prof. Dr. Martin
Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI
AG, explained: “The decision demonstrates what potential
there is for industrial production in Germany. We are delighted
that the Audi Q5 will be built in Ingolstadt, now that we
have reached an agreement with the Works Council enabling
us to build it at a competitive cost.” A total of some 1,700
workers will be involved in production of the Audi Q5 in
Ingolstadt.
The decision to
build the Audi Q5 at Ingolstadt is the third major decision within
a short space of time that AUDI AG has reached in favour of a German
location. Just a few months ago, it was announced that the new Audi
A5 is to be built in Ingolstadt, and the Audi R8 sports car in Neckarsulm.
Production of the Audi R8 will commence in the fourth quarter of
2006.
The Audi Q5 will
join the Audi Q7 as the Audi brand's second model in the sport utility
vehicle (SUV) segment.
At present, the Audi A3,
A3 Sportback, A4 saloon and Avant and, in conjunction with Györ, the Audi
TT Coupé and Roadster are built in Ingolstadt. In 2005, a total of 510,416
vehicles left the Ingolstadt production lines. The Audi A6 saloon and Avant
and the A8 are built in Neckarsulm, with production of the Audi R8 due to
commence there in the fourth quarter of 2006. In Neckarsulm, 241,070 vehicles
