Audi 2006 Annual Report Download - page 58

Audi Australia
bringing “Vorsprung durch Technik”
to the outback
Even if the nearest
Audi Centre is
2,000 km away, Audi
Service is at hand
when needed.
TECHNOLOGY: SERVICE PROGRAMME
PHOTOS: SAM TINSON
56 AUDI 2006 ANNUAL REPORT
The Trans-Continental Crossing proved beyond
doubt the reliability and endurance of the
Audi Q7, and for Audi Australia that has meant
an increasing number of sales in remote
outback locations. Providing premium client
service to these areas calls for a unique after-
sales strategy, as Jörg Hofmann, Managing
Director of Audi Australia, explains: “The Trans-
Continental Crossing certainly raised Audi’s
profile in rural Australia. There was a great deal
of interest in the Audi Q7 in towns we passed
through such as Broome and Birdsville, with
some buyers actually flying in to view the new
car and placing orders on the spot. It’s our aim
to give these customers the same premium
service that Audi provides to its clients in
urban centres.” There are a number of ways to
achieve this. One is to fly Audi technicians to
remote locations. For instance, the nearest
Audi Centre to Broome is over 2,000 km away
in Perth, so a technician will fly from there
to conduct service clinics for our Broome
clients.
“We are also looking into other possible solu-
tions, one of which could be a fleet of ‘Audi
Mobils’ – fully-equipped service vehicles able
to drive to locations outside the normal prime
market area”, suggests Hofmann.
Audi Australia has begun establishing satel-
lite service centres away from their city show-
rooms, and these facilities will obviously in-
crease as the customer network grows, with
increased scope in rural centres.
Providing a foundation for all these initiatives
is the Audi Modern Apprenticeship Program
(AMAP) a registered training organisation for
young automotive technicians organised and
run by Audi Australia.
“AMAP is a four-year apprenticeship run in
conjunction with our dealerships,” says Hof-
mann. “The program produces technicians
who are distinguished by their competence
and loyalty to Audi as they have started their
apprenticeship with the brand. We also have
full-time technical trainers who run training
programs on all models, so our technicians
are always up to date with the latest service
procedures. AMAP is a clear benefit over our
competitors – no one else offers this. In the
long term it means our customers are guaran-
teed the highest possible level of customer
service.”