With the help of 13 new models due in 2011, Audi plans to build further on its exceptional 2010 global production and sales figures, which at 1,148,791 cars already equated to an increase in production of 23.4 per cent compared with 2009.

Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG announced that production will continue to increase this year thanks to new models such as the Audi Q3 and the new Audi A6 Saloon. Discussions are also ongoing about a possible Audi production site in the United States, and a decision is expected to be reached by 2015.

All Audi production sites recorded a significant growth in output in 2010. The Ingolstadt plant achieved its highest volume to date, of 553,010 cars (up 7.5 per cent). The Neckarsulm site increased production by 21.7 per cent to 216,322 cars, and is now focusing on producing the new Audi A6 Saloon after the successful launches of the R8 Spyder, the Audi A8 and A8L, and the A7.

“The Audi growth strategy provides long-term security for our sites and for the people who work there,” explained 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. Everyone worked very hard in 2010, which resulted in more production and higher sales and enabled Audi to emerge from the recession stronger than ever. Now we want to continue following this path in the future. 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,” Dreves added. “Our production figures are higher than ever before at our German sites in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. This sets a good foundation for us to tackle the upcoming challenges that are part of our growth strategy.”