|
At the auto company’s Annual
General Meeting in Neckarsulm, Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the
Board of Management of AUDI AG, reflected on the brand’s
impressive performance in 2010: “In the first year after the
economic crisis we put in an impressively dynamic performance”.
Meanwhile, Audi was able to display its premium credentials to
better effect than in virtually any other year, and moved
systematically into new segments and niches.
Furthermore, this dynamic growth
is continuing in the current fiscal year. From January through
April, the Group delivered around 421,900 cars of the Audi
brand. There was particularly high demand for the flagship A8
model, the A7 Sportback and the A1. In his speech to the
stockholders of AUDI AG, Stadler confirmed the goal for the
year: “We are targeting new record deliveries of 1.2 million
automobiles for 2011”. In order to achieve these ambitious
targets, the Company aims to delight its customers with a host
of new products and innovations over the next few months.
New models for 2011 Along with the
sporty A6 business sedan and the A6 Avant, 2011 will also see
the Audi Q5 hybrid quattro go on sale. The brand with the four
rings already took the wraps off its Audi Q3 compact lifestyle
SUV at the Auto Shanghai motor show in mid-April. The response
from journalists, dealers and potential customers has been
highly promising. The Company is looking to build 100,000 of
this model in its first full year in production. The Audi Q3
will be made at the Martorell plant, in Spain. In a second step
Audi is then also planning to build the Q3 in China.
From January through April, Audi
already sold 87,788 cars in China, an increase of 23.5 percent
on the previous year. This total makes China Audi’s most
important sales market. The brand with the four rings is also
powering on in Germany: With deliveries of 78,487 cars in the
first four months of 2011, the Company increased its sales by
14.3 percent compared with the corresponding period of the
previous year. In all regions, Audi is thus clearly on track to
reach its target for the year of 1.2 million cars delivered.
Increasing deliveries, revenue and
operating profit Axel Strotbek, Board Member for Finance and
Organization, also aims to take revenue and operating profit
beyond the previous year’s figures. Nevertheless, the Finance
Director is mindful of the risks. Many countries – particularly
in Europe – are still struggling to keep their economic recovery
on track: “And there is increasing volatility in the exchange
rates and commodity prices that matter most to us, making it
more difficult to plan for the future”. However, the Group has
created an effective safety net to ensure that the key financial
indicators continue to reflect its successful track record. The
Company continues to target high margins: “The operating return
on sales for 2011 as a whole should repeat the previous year’s
high figure of 9.4 percent,” said Strotbek.
Attractive employer – at least
2,200 new jobs this year The Company’s motivated employees are a
key factor in achieving these ambitious growth targets. That is
why AUDI AG also lets its workforce share financially in the
positive performance. In recognition of the hugely successful
past fiscal year, every employee is receiving € 6,513 on average
– the highest profit share in Audi’s history.
This year, the Company is in
addition hiring 1,200 experts mainly in the specialist areas of
electric mobility and lightweight design. 700 young people will
also commence training. On top of that, Audi will be giving
permanent jobs to at least 300 temporary workers. Audi remains
very popular among academic graduates. As the renowned employer
ranking study by the consultants Trendence reveals, Audi has
emerged as the most attractive employer among economics and
engineering graduates for the second time in a row. Among
students of both disciplines the brand with the four rings is
now also rated top by the very best students of their subject,
the high potentials.
Photo: Audi
(May 12, 2011)
|
|
