Audi is pleased to announce that the 1,000,000th Q5 SUV has rolled off the Ingolstadt Production line.

Hugely popular Audi SUV celebrates landmark sales success

• Production jubilee for mid-range SUV
• Best-selling premium SUV in its segment: nearly 1.6 million deliveries worldwide

Last Thursday, the one-millionth Audi Q5 drove off the production line at Audi’s main plant in Ingolstadt. The jubilee car, an SQ5 in Sepang Blue, will be delivered to a family in Germany. 

The international success of the Audi Q5 began in 2008, when Audi launched this model in the segment of mid-range SUVs – the second Q-model from the brand with the Four Rings after the Audi Q7. 

Since then, the Audi Q5 has developed into a favourite with the customers and can be seen on the roads of more than 100 countries. Because Audi produces this top-seller also in China and India for the respective local markets, worldwide deliveries sum up to nearly 1.6 million vehicles.

“The Audi Q5 is a genuine guarantee of success for us. For that reason, I am very proud that we have created a worldwide crowd puller with this SUV model from the main plant in Ingolstadt. One million Audi Q5 cars – that is due to the outstanding performance of our production team. We achieved it with great effort and commitment,” stated Albert Mayer, Plant Director at the Audi site in Ingolstadt.

Peter Mosch, Chairman of the Group Works Council of AUDI AG: “On behalf of the Works Council, I would like to thank all the colleagues who put our Audi Q5 on the roads. Their skills make this SUV into an absolute bestseller.”

The company handed over a total of 266,968 Audi Q5 cars to its customers worldwide last year, which is about eight percent more than in 2014 (247,446). The success of the Audi Q5 is steadily continuing, with a further increase in unit sales of 4.7 percent in the first half of this year. The Audi Q5 continues to be the bestselling premium SUV in its segment.

Audi employees in Ingolstadt build more than 650 automobiles of this model every day. In addition, the Audi Group produces this top-seller also in Changchun, China, and Aurangabad, India, for the respective local markets. Altogether, nearly 1.6 million of the Audi Q5 have been sold worldwide since the start of production in 2008. The SUV is especially popular in China, the United States and Germany.

Audi Ingolstadt is the lead plant and mentor for the new Audi plant in Mexico. The Audi Q5 will drive off the production line in San José Chiapa for the world market as of late September. 

Audi confirms that the Q2 will go ahead and a revised Q5 is in the process of being finalised.

• Capital expenditure of more than € 3 billion in 2016 
• Audi CEO Rupert Stadler: “Continuing with high levels of investment in future technologies to enhance strong position” 
• Axel Strotbek, Board of Management Member for Finance and Organization: “Gaining financial scope through further cost optimization” 
• Audi Board of Management Member for Human Resources Thomas Sigi: “Looking for experts in areas important for the future” 

Audi will lay the foundations for future growth in 2016. In the coming financial year, the company plans to continue with its high levels of investment. Along with further process and cost optimization, the planned capital expenditure is to amount to more than € 3 billion, and will support the Ingolstadt-based company along its successful path. 

Half of the planned investment will take place at the German sites in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. Furthermore, Audi will recruit additional experts in the field of future technologies once again in 2016.

The company intends to push forward with its growth strategy with the approved investment program in 2016: “We are continuing with our high levels of investment in future technologies to enhance the strong position of our brand,” emphasized Audi CEO Rupert Stadler

The pictures below are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered

to be the actual car that may or may not be due for release in the future.

The car producer also plans to enter a new market segment with the Audi Q2 model next year.

In addition, Audi will present the successor of the Audi Q5 next year, thus continuing with the next chapter of its SUV success story. “A significant proportion of our investment is naturally in the field of alternative drive systems,” stated Stadler. In 2018, the first large‑series battery‑electric vehicle of the brand with the Four Rings will be launched, based on the Audi e-tron Quattro concept. By 2020, Audi will expand its model range to include 60 different automobiles.

While Audi is consciously investing in new models and technologies, as well as in the expansion of its worldwide production network, CFO Axel Strotbek also sees potential for continual cost improvements: “With the current investment program, we obviously want to enhance the brand’s strong position, but at the same time, we aim to achieve additional financial scope by means of further process and cost optimization.” According to Strotbek, the company will not save at the expense of its future, but every investment will be carefully examined. The Board of Management has therefore decided to postpone the construction of a new wind tunnel for one year.

Audi continues to accelerate in the area of digitalization. In early December, the company acquired a one‑third interest in HERE, thus safeguarding the cooperation with a leading provider of digital maps and location-based services. Audi’s share of the purchase price amounts to € 0.85 billion. In order to maintain its “Vorsprung durch Technik” also in the future, the company will strengthen its workforce as it progresses along its growth path in 2016. Thomas Sigi, Board of Management Member for Human Resources at AUDI AG, stated: “We are looking for experts in areas important for the future.” Demand is particularly strong for specialists in alternative drive systems and lightweight construction, but also for IT specialists, who will further develop the fields of Audi connect, Audi mobility and smart factory in the context of digitalization. 

Audi, to continue with it's vast spending spree, whilst other VW Group companies cut costs.

• Capital expenditure of more than € 3 billion planned for 2016
• Audi CEO Rupert Stadler says Audi is continuing with high levels of investment in future technologies to enhance strong position
• Axel Strotbek, Board of Management Member for Finance and Organization says the compoany is gaining financial scope through further cost optimization

Audi will lay the foundation for future growth in 2016. In the coming financial year, the company plans to continue with its high levels of investment. Along with further process and cost optimization, the planned capital expenditure is to amount to more than € 3 billion, and will support the Ingolstadt-based company along its successful path. 

Half of the planned investment will take place at the German sites in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. Furthermore, Audi will recruit additional experts in the field of future technologies once again in 2016.

The company intends to push forward with its growth strategy with the approved investment program in 2016: “We are continuing with our high levels of investment in future technologies to enhance the strong position of our brand,” emphasized Audi CEO Rupert Stadler. The car producer also plans to enter a new market segment with the Audi Q2 model next year.

In addition, Audi will present the successor of the Audi Q5 next year, thus continuing with the next chapter of its SUV success story. “A significant proportion of our investment is naturally in the field of alternative drive systems,” stated Stadler. 

In 2018, the first large-series battery-electric vehicle of the brand with the Four Rings will be launched, based on the Audi e-tron Quattro concept. By 2020, Audi will expand its model range to include 60 different automobiles.

While Audi is consciously investing in new models and technologies, as well as in the expansion of its worldwide production network, CFO Axel Strotbek also sees potential for continual cost improvements: “With the current investment program, we obviously want to enhance the brand’s strong position, but at the same time, we aim to achieve additional financial scope by means of further process and cost optimization.” 

According to Strotbek, the company will not save at the expense of its future, but every investment will be carefully examined. The Board of Management has therefore decided to postpone the construction of a new wind tunnel for one year.

Audi continues to accelerate in the area of digitalization. In early December, the company acquired a one-third interest in HERE, thus safeguarding the cooperation with a leading provider of digital maps and location-based services. 

Audi’s share of the purchase price amounts to € 0.85 billion. In order to maintain its “Vorsprung durch Technik” also in the future, the company will strengthen its workforce as it progresses along its growth path in 2016. Thomas Sigi, Board of Management Member for Human Resources at AUDI AG, stated: 

“We are looking for experts in areas important for the future.” Demand is particularly strong for specialists in alternative drive systems and lightweight construction, but also for IT specialists, who will further develop the fields of Audi connect, Audi mobility and smart factory in the context of digitalization.

Audi increases rate of production at it's Münchsmünster Production facility, Germany.

• More than one million components related to the chassis and 30,000 aluminum structural elements produced in 2015.
• Hubert Waltl, Head of Production: "Münchsmünster is key to Audi's growth strategy."
• Audi is a driving force for Bavaria .

The new Audi production facility in Münchsmünster is located about 30 kilometers east of the main factory in Ingolstadt. Hot stamping and cold frame components of high technology and light aluminum structural elements, among others, parts are produced here for the new Audi Q7. 

By 2017, a total of 900 employees will be working in the factory, sending everyone 26 million pieces annually.The complex high-tech Audi Neuburg Münchsmünster production unit, and future innovation campus (INCampus) make the Audi factory in Ingolstadt a major driving force for growth in Bavaria.

"The components are manufactured in Münchsmünster help us improve our system of lightweight construction," explains Hubert Waltl, Head of Audi production. The elements of hot stamped steel and aluminum castings to determine a lower weight while retaining the same strength and precision. "This is an essential contribution to reducing weight in the new Audi Q7, which is up 325 more kilograms lighter than its predecessor. The production facility in Münchsmünster is synonymous with ultra-modern, cutting-edge technology," says Waltl.

Currently, more than 500 employees work for Audi in Münchsmünster, in two or three shifts. Since the end of 2015, all areas of manufacturing components produce in three shifts a day. Peter Mosch, Chairman of the Works Council of Audi, expanding Münchsmünster seen as a test of responsibility to the region of Ingolstadt."This is the point of origin principle 'At the forefront of the art' and where we need to continue to concentrate the experience of the brand with the four rings," said Mosch, stressing that the correct structure is as important as the expansion itself.

In late 2013, Audi began operations in what were originally 31 hectares Industrial Park Münchsmünster for the production of structural elements of the frame made of cast aluminum, hot stamping parts and cold andother frame components. Investments in facilities achieved a triple digit figure in millions of euros. And now it is when production is reaching a higher rate.

In the ultramodern machinery aluminum smelting unit, production is growing rapidly. More than 30,000 structural components have already been made in 2015, including the connecting element between the side rails and suspension anchors of the new Audi Q7 and damper brackets in the new generation of the Audi A4.The total volume should reach approximately 200,000 units at year end.

In the nave of presses, Audi is currently installing a fully automated laser system. To this end, the company has implemented new technologies for stamping hot methods. The "laser area" will be fully operational in autumn. In total, this installation Audi produces 40 different stampings, such as side sills and the transmission tunnel of the new Audi A4.

So far this year, Audi has produced 1.38 million standard elements in the installation of frame components.At year end, this figure should reach 4.6 million parts, including wheel hubs, bearings, brake discs and portabujes primarily for Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7. The technological area in which Audi develops all his experience are machining operations. The premium manufacturer is building a second line for wheel hubs, which in the future will be capable of producing one hundred percent of these elements in the factory Münchmüster.

The advantages of the installation of 48.2 hectares in Münchsmünster include its proximity to the main factory and good transport links through the federal highway B16 and B16a. A railway connection to the main railway line Ingolstadt-Regensburg is planned for 2017.

Audi has a commitment to environmental protection and sustainability: for example, the company recovers energy and heat in all areas of manufacturing and advanced techniques used in the system of air purification systems, wastewater treatment and isolation acoustic. Since 1997, the EMAS scheme Eco-management and testing of the European Union has been the benchmark for environmental facilities Ingolstadt.Münchsmünster production was fully validated for the first time, according to the EMAS criteria in 2015.

Translated by Google - Apologies for any errors caused.

BMW plans to build a small X range, below the X1, and based on the 2-Series Active Tourer.

BMW Group plans a small crossover to rival Audi’s forthcoming Q1, a German magazine reported.

According to auto motor und sport, the model, currently dubbed Urban Cross, will be based on the platform underpinning the 2-series Active Tourer minivan and will use front-wheel-drive technology from the group’s Mini brand.

A BMW spokesman told Automotive News Europe that the report was “pure speculation,” and the group would not comment on speculation.

BMW’s smallest crossover will sit below the X1, but its design would differ from that found on the automaker's current X lineup, the magazine said. The entry-level model will have a coupe-like shape and its cool and aggressive styling will help attract customers, the report added, citing company sources.

The roughly 4000mm long SUV is expected to have about 330 liters of luggage space, the same as the Mini Paceman, auto motor und sport said.

Pricing will likely begin about 25,000 euros in Germany when sales begin in 2017, the report said.

Audi has said it will begin building the Q1 at its factory in Ingolstadt, Germany, next year.

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GERMAN MAGAZINE REPORT HERE

AUDI hits the Two Million milestone in the UK after 50 years.

Fifty years after its first domestic delivery Audi UK has registered an A3 Sportback plug-in hybrid as its two-millionth car sale

• First Audi model codenamed F103 reached the UK in 1965, when the brand sold just 32 cars
• Two millionth car sold by the UK importer is an A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid
• Sales success achieved through more than two decades of strong and virtually unbroken growth –  2014 was no exception with a record 158,987 sales

When just 32 cars bearing the four rings found homes in the UK in 1965, it would have seemed improbable that an incredible two million more would follow, but this major milestone has today been reached by Audi UK almost fifty years later.

The first four-ringed car sold to a UK customer was a ‘compact executive’ in a model range of just one, internally codenamed the F103 and publicly known simply as ‘The Audi’. It was to be the springboard for a range that in 2015 numbers some 51 model types ranging from subcompact city cars to ten-cylinder supercars, and which has recently welcomed the A3 Sportback e-tron, the brand’s first ever plug-in hybrid and the two millionth car to be handed over to a UK customer.  

As parent company Audi AG edges ever closer to selling two million cars globally in a single year – around 1,741,000 cars were delivered to customers worldwide in 2014 – its UK importer has just cumulatively broken through the two million barrier buoyed by more than two decades of recession-resistant sales strength, during which time its trajectory has been upward in all but three years. From a base of just 14,344 cars in 1991, the brand exceeded 100,000 annual sales for the first time in 2007, and in 2014 posted a total of 158,987 deliveries. 

Director of Audi UK André Konsbruck marked the momentous occasion by saying: “It’s hugely gratifying for the team in the UK to reach this significant milestone in the brand’s history in the UK, but it’s the contributory figures lying behind the headline number which really speak volumes about our recent past and our future aspirations. 

Domestically the brand has risen from humble beginnings in the Sixties to become the leader in the premium segment, and the last two decades have delivered virtually constant, and in all but three years record-breaking, growth. These are really robust foundations on which we plan to build consistently and substantially with the help of an ever expanding portfolio of models.”

Ingolstadt born and bred

‘The Audi’ which projected the green shoots of this abundant growth was built by Auto Union AG, the conglomerate whose emblem contained a ring representing each of its four constituent companies Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. 

It was assembled at the company’s Ingolstadt plant in Bavaria, Germany, which remains the headquarters of the modern day Audi brand to this day, and it was the first car to leave the production line with a four-stroke engine rather than the more commonplace two-stroke design. In terms of horsepower, the 1700cc engine produced 72PS, a fraction of the 570PS available in the most powerful production Audi to head the current range – the limited edition R8 LMX. 

Priced at £160,000 OTR, its 5.2-litre V10 powerplant is capable of propelling the supercar to 62mph in just 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 198mph.

Available as a two-door ‘coupé’, four-door saloon or estate, ‘The Audi’ was essentially the precursor to the Audi 80 and 90, which went on to form the conceptual basis of the A4, the compact executive saloon which sparked a revolution for the Audi brand in 1995 and began to decisively cement its position as a fully fledged member of the premium sector establishment.

Two million cars further down the line, the model that has posted the milestone for Audi UK combines a conventional 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver the potential for up to 176mpg with CO₂ emissions of just 37g/km.

The latest electric plug-in hybrid variant of the Audi A3, which was crowned World Car of the Year in 2014, can run exclusively on electric power for up to 31 miles at speeds of up to 80mph, or can be powered by petrol combustion alone. When the two power sources are combined, an overall operating range of up to 584 miles is possible. The battery powering the electric motor can be charged by plugging the A3 Sportback e-tron into a home wallbox for as little as two hours and fifteen minutes.

EURO NCAP - Audi A3 Sportback achieves the full five stars.

• Top marks in the front, side and rear collision categories
• The new Audi A3 Sportback e-tron also offers a high level of safety for children
• Special prize for Audi pre sense basic and multicollision brake assist system

The Euro NCAP consortium has awarded the new Audi A3 Sportback e-tron the maximum five-star rating for crash safety. This puts the first series production plug-in hybrid from Audi among the safest cars in its class.

The test panel was impressed by the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron across the board: As a result the plug‑in hybrid earned top marks in protecting adults and children in a front, side or rear collision. The model also passed tests of its pedestrian protection with flying colours.

This year Euro NCAP additionally tested assistance systems for the first time. The A3 Sportback e-tron with Audi pre sense front and Audi active lane assist also fulfilled the stringent requirements in this category.

The model received the special “Euro NCAP advanced” prize for its Audi pre sense basic passenger protection system as well as for the Audi secondary collision brake assist system that is fitted as standard. This function initiates braking automatically in case of an accident to reduce the risk of skidding and the danger of a subsequent collision.

Established in 1997, the Euro NCAP consortium is made up of international representatives from European transport ministries, motoring associations, insurers and consumer organisations. The council tests the crash performance of new car models. The demanding test requirements of Euro NCAP far exceed the standards of European legislation.