Audi 2007 Annual Report Download - page 139

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Business and underlying situation
Company
The Audi Group, comprising the Audi and Lamborghini brands, is one of the most successful
carmakers in the premium segment.
At the core of the Company is the Audi brand, whose vehicles captivate customers
around the world with their modern design and high build quality. The stated ambition of
the Audi brand is to fulfill challenging customer expectations of pioneering innovations
through the brand essence of “Vorsprung durch Technik” as well as the brand values of
sportiness, sophistication and progressiveness. Furthermore, the Company is placing in-
creasing emphasis on the sustainability of the technology it uses. Customers experience this
brand identity through a diverse range of models, which enabled Audi to further strengthen
its good position on car markets worldwide in 2007.
Audi vehicle sales by region
2007 Share in %
Germany 254,014 26.3
Europe excluding Germany 432,466 44.9
China (including Hong Kong) 101,996 10.6
USA 93,506 9.7
Other 82,169 8.5
Total 964,151 100.0
The Italian Lamborghini brand upholds a long-standing tradition in the super sports car
segment. The allure of its uncompromising, unrivaled vehicles remains as great as ever. In
the past fiscal year, the Lamborghini brand enjoyed another sharp rise in demand.
Group structure and principal group companies
The Audi Group is headquartered in Ingolstadt. This is where Technical Development, Sales,
Administration and substantial portions of the manufacturing operations are based. In addi-
tion to the high-selling A3, A3 Sportback and the A4 Sedan and Avant models, the new A5
Coupé and the ultra-sporty S3 and S5 Coupé versions are built there as well. Volume produc-
tion of the new Audi Q5 will additionally begin in 2008. The bodies of the TT Coupé and
Roadster and of the A3 Cabriolet are also made in Ingolstadt.
At Neckarsulm, the Company’s second German location, AUDI AG manufactures the A4
Sedan, A6 Sedan, Avant and allroad quattro, S6 Sedan and Avant models, as well as the A8
luxury sedan, plus its high-performance A8 W12 and S8 versions.
The Audi R8 mid-engine sports car, hand-crafted to exceptionally high standards, and the
new RS 6 Avant are built by quattro GmbH, which is also based at Neckarsulm. This com-
pany, a wholly owned subsidiary of AUDI AG, also supplies an attractive customization pro-
gram for all Audi models (e.g. S line, exclusive line) and sells exclusive lifestyle articles that
embody the spirit of the brand with the four rings.
The Belgian plant in Brussels, which became part of the Audi manufacturing network in
March 2007, currently builds the A3 Sportback and the VW Polo on behalf of Volkswagen AG.
Management Report of the Audi Group
for the 2007 fiscal year
The Group