Audi 2012 Annual Report Download - page 195

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Sales of automobiles in Central and Eastern European countries should initially remain on a par
with the previous year in 2013, before the markets expand more dynamically in 2014.
The Audi Group expects the United States to maintain its upward trend in new registrations of
cars and light commercial vehicles in 2013. Demand will probably benefit from consistently high
replacement demand and the continuing availability of favorable credit terms. The U.S. automo-
bile market’s solid performance should continue in 2014 as well. In Latin American car markets,
we expect demand to be on a par with the previous year in 2013. Sales of new vehicles are then
expected to pick up somewhat in 2014.
We expect demand for cars in the Asia-Pacific region to show a mixed performance in 2013 and
2014. The growth trend in new registrations in China should hold up, with slightly less momen-
tum. In India, too, the high pace of growth is likely to calm somewhat in 2013 before returning
to higher growth rates in 2014. In Japan, we anticipate a decline in general demand for cars
following the withdrawal of state aid and the meeting of replacement demand after the natural
disaster; the market should then stabilize again in 2014.
Motorcycle market
For 2013 and 2014 we expect to see a slight rise in demand for motorcycles in the displacement
segment above 500 cc in the markets that are relevant for the Ducati brand. Growth is likely to
be vigorous in emerging economies, but generally more moderate in established markets. In
Southern European motorcycle markets, we forecast demand for motorcycles to be rather subdued
because of the protracted sovereign debt crises, which have unsettled consumers there.
Anticipated development of the Audi Group
Continuing high uncertainty about the further direction of the economy – especially in light of the
sovereign debt crises in many countries – remains a major challenge for the automotive industry
and consequently also for the Audi Group. The situation is exacerbated by increasingly intensive
competition and the ongoing technological revolution brought on by the development of alter-
native mobility and drive concepts.
Among its strategic objectives, the Audi Group practices value-oriented corporate management.
It is steadily defining and implementing measures designed to protect and boost its interna-
tional competitiveness. The Audi Group thus believes it is well-equipped to adhere to its course
of qualitative growth over the coming years.
Anticipated development of deliveries
For the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years, the Audi Group expects to be able to increase deliveries of
its core brand Audi. Thus, the 2015 target to deliver 1.5 million automobiles of the brand with
the four rings could be achieved sooner. The Company is aiming to increase its market shares in
a large number of sales markets thanks to its attractive product range, thus further improving
its already strong competitive position in the premium car segment.
Deliveries of the Audi brand in the key high-volume markets of Western Europe should thus remain
at the high level of previous years despite the anticipated difficult environment and falling over-
all market demand.
In the Central and Eastern Europe region – and especially Russia – the Company is targeting a
dynamic increase in deliveries to customers.