Audi markets

The Audi Group sold 345,140 cars in the first half of 2000; this represents an increase of 7.6 percent on the corresponding period of 1999. This total was made up of 345,003 Audi and 137 Lamborghini cars. 

Whereas vehicle sales in Germany fell by 7.9 percent in the first six months to 125,122 Audi vehicles, elsewhere Audi was able to report sales of 219,881 cars; this is 19.1 percent up on the figure for January to June 1999. 

Demand for cars with the four-ring badge in the USA was particularly high: the market for imported vehicles grew by just over 14 percent - sales of Audi vehicles in the first half of 2000 soared by 42.9 percent. 

This pattern was mirrored by the Japanese car market: although sales of foreign imports remained virtually constant, Audi sold 3,576 cars in the land of the rising sun, 17.0 percent more than in the first half of 1999. 

Audi sales in China up to the end of June more than doubled compared with the prior-year period, with 8,374 cars delivered to customers. The Changchun-built version of the Audi A6, which was launched on the Chinese market in January 2000, has been instrumental to this success. 

Audi cars were also in considerable demand in Great Britain and France: sales in these two countries rose by 17.1 and 23.3 percent respectively. The British market as a whole expanded slightly in the year-on-year comparison, and the French market grew by over 17 percent. 

Major markets - Audi vehicles 

Increased vehicle production

In the first six months of 2000, the Audi Group manufactured 327,301 cars. Production was thus stepped up by a further 3.9 percent on the prior-year period. This total was made up of 327,167 Audi models and 134 Lamborghini Diablos. 

In Ingolstadt, Audi built 191,093 A3 and A4 models. 104,892 cars left the assembly lines in Neckarsulm where, in addition to the A6 and A8, the A2 and allroad quattro are now being built. The Rheine plant of Wilhelm Karmann GmbH produced 2,001 Audi Cabriolets. AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft. in Györ built 29,181 of the Audi TT Coupé and Audi TT Roadster jointly with the Ingolstadt plant. 

In the anniversary year - 20 years on from the market launch of the quattro - almost every third Audi was supplied with this drive principle. Almost 40 percent of Audi models have a TDI engine. 

Production output of engines in the first half of 2000 totalled 631,197 units, just short of the prior-year figure. AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft. manufactured 543,060 engines, and AUDI AG 86,204. COSWORTH TECHNOLOGY LIMITED built 1,799 engines for passenger cars, and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. 134 engines for sports cars. 

Higher sales revenues

The Audi Group's sales revenues for the first six months showed an improvement of 10.7 percent on the corresponding period of 1999, rising to DM 15,905 million. This development was attributable to higher unit sales and more exclusive equipment specifications. The advantageous exchange rate for exports to countries which are not part of the European Monetary Union also had a beneficial effect on sales revenues. 

Earnings before taxes at the end of June 2000 were DM 750 million, a shortfall of 6.9 percent on the previous year. This is principally due to the fact that COSWORTH TECHNOLOGY LIMITED and the Lamborghini Group had not yet been included in the consolidated first-half accounts for 1999. Both companies are still undergoing restructuring and therefore have a negative effect on earnings at present. 

Audi stepped up its already high level of capital investments by 17.3 percent, to DM 1,220 million, in the period under review. Through a comprehensive product portfolio, the strengthened position in export markets, the systematic updating and extending of production facilities and a modern, innovative human resources policy, Audi has established the basis for further sound growth. 

Audi creates more jobs

In particular as a result of the launching of new products, the Audi Group workforce expanded by 4.0 percent in the first half of this year. At the end of June, the Audi Group had 48,402 employees. Of this total, 42,892 were employed by AUDI AG, 4,331 by AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft., 738 by COSWORTH TECHNOLOGY LIMITED and 427 by the Lamborghini Group. 

Key Figures AUDI Group 

* Figures for the first half of 1999 have been adjusted to reflect the current reporting entity.

Key Figures AUDI AG