Audi 2012 Annual Report Download - page 162

165
Management Report
140 Audi Group
151 Business and underlying
situation
151 Economic environment
153 Research and development
162 Procurement
162 Production
165 Deliveries and distribution
173 Financial performance
indicators
176 Social and ecological aspects
190 Risks, opportunities
and outlook
201 Disclaimer
The completion of the new Engine Test Center in October 2012 means Neckarsulm now has the
most innovative and efficient facility for engine testing in the entire Company. Moreover, the
Engine Test Center sets new standards in terms of using resources sparingly.
Topping-out ceremony at new Audi Hungaria car plant in Győr
Ten months after the foundation stone was laid, the Hungarian subsidiary AUDI HUNGARIA
MOTOR Kft. held the topping-out ceremony for its expanded facilities at the Győr plant in May
2012. Car production operations covering the entire process chain – press shop, body manufac-
turing, paint shop and assembly – are currently being set up there. From summer 2013, an
additional model of the A3 family will be built at Győr alongside the current car lines. The plans
envisage a future production output of 125,000 vehicles a year in Hungary.
Further expansion in China
The Company is preparing for further growth by expanding its worldwide production network. In
addition to the A4 L and A6 L Sedan models and the Q5, the Q3 SUV model will also be produced
at Changchun (China) from March 2013. Geographical proximity to customers is a crucial com-
petitive advantage when seeking to supply important sales markets flexibly and in line with
demand. The joint venture FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company, Ltd., Changchun (China), which
includes the partners AUDI AG, FAW Group Corporation, Changchun (China), and Volkswagen AG,
Wolfsburg, is currently constructing a further car plant in Foshan, South China. It will have a press
shop, body shop, paint shop and assembly line and thus cover the entire production process.
A new model of the A3 family will be built there from the end of 2013.
Expansion of production in India
Audi has started production of the Q7 luxury-class SUV at its Aurangabad plant, in the Indian state
of Maharashtra. Up to 1,000 of the Audi Q7 will be assembled there each year to supply the
Indian market. Alongside the A4, A6 and Q5, the Q7 is now the fourth model to be built locally
in India. There are also plans to produce the Q3 in the new assembly hall from mid-2013.
New Audi plant in Mexico: San José Chiapa the chosen location
In September 2012, the Company announced that it will construct a new plant in the Americas,
in San José Chiapa, Central Mexico. Competitive cost structures, extensive free-trade agreements,
the site conditions, logistics links, infrastructure, workforce qualifications and quality of life were
the decisive criteria behind the choice of this site. The construction of the new plant will start
early in 2013 and represents a milestone for Audi’s growth within its Strategy 2020. In terms of
the efficient use of resources and production methods, it will be the most modern facility in the
Audi production network. The successor model to the current Q5 will be built there. Production
is scheduled to begin in 2016.
DELIVERIES AND DISTRIBUTION
The Audi Group delivered 1,634,312 (1,512,014) cars to customers worldwide in the 2012
fiscal year. The core brand Audi increased its deliveries by a substantial 11.7 percent to
1,455,123 (1,302,659) vehicles.
In the home market Germany, where overall demand clearly lost momentum in the second
half of the year, the brand with the four rings increased its deliveries by 3.6 percent to
263,163 (254,011) units. Its market share consequently rose to 8.6 (7.9) percent.