Audi 2008 Annual Report Download - page 37

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small outpost was founded 116 years ago for workers con-
structing the Trans-Siberian Railroad. In 1893, the corner-
stone was laid for the new bridge across the mighty Ob
River. Novosibirsk, which means “New Siberian City,” is now
home to more than 1.4 million residents and constitutes
one of the country’s most important transportation hubs.
Several major traffic arteries converge in Russia’s third-
largest city. The Trans-Siberian Railroad and the Baikal
Highway unite this massive country extending from
St. Petersburg on the Baltic Sea to Vladivostok on the Pa-
cific Ocean. The Chukchi Highway branches off here into the
Mongolian steppes. On the Ob – which is one of Russia’s
longest rivers and empties into the Arctic Ocean – ships
transport oil, construction materials and lumber. And Tol-
machevo International Airport serves all of Europe and
Asia. But this western Siberian city does not live from trade
alone. Machine building, energy and metallurgy also play
pivotal roles in the local economy. The cockpit and tail of
the Superjet 100 passenger plane, which holds great prom-
ise for Russian aviation, are manufactured here. And
Akademgorodok, the internationally renowned research
center, has developed into an IT powerhouse. Thanks to the
high-tech endeavors of young software developers, Novosi-
birsk is also known as “Silicon Taiga.”
Audi cars are coveted by prosperous Russians. Sales records
have been the norm for the brand in Novosibirsk for some
years now. Around 25 percent more cars were sold in 2008
than in the previous year – almost 250 vehicles. And so the
brand is increasingly leaving its mark on the cityscape, with
some 2,000 Audi cars on the roads in Novosibirsk. The
mayor, high-ranking officials and the police also drive Audi.
A key image booster.
Driving doctor: The Audi Q7 is a reliable service vehicle in the wide open spaces of the Russian taiga.