Audi 2012 Annual Report Download - page 197

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Capital investments
Alongside broadening its portfolio of products and technologies, under its mid-range invest-
ment plans the Audi Group’s primary focus is on expanding its worldwide development and
manufacturing structures. All investment measures share the common objective of building on
the Company’s strong competitive position through a forward-looking model, technology and
brand strategy.
To realize its plans for sustainable, high-quality growth, the Audi Group intends to invest a total
of around EUR 11 billion over the period 2013 through 2015.
Anticipated development of the workforce
In line with the Company’s plans for growth, the number of employees at the Audi Group will rise
still further in 2013 and 2014.
Opportunities for future development
To safeguard its sustainable, profitable growth, the Audi Group pursues a large number of
measures in order to identify and act on opportunities and openings at the earliest possible
time. The expansion of the Audi Group’s product range is especially important in this connection
and will remain so over the next few years. The Audi Group will generate extra sales potential by
gradually adding a large number of new models and derivative versions to its range.
In tandem with the model initiative, we aim to demonstrate our “Vorsprung durch Technik” by
developing and promoting further innovative technologies. One particularly important goal in
this respect is to permanently reduce CO2 emissions by systematically improving efficiency,
adopting alternative drive technologies and making increased use of renewable energy in pro-
duction and transport.
As an attractive employer worldwide, the Audi Group possesses the necessary infrastructure and
has qualified experts and engineers with the right expertise to rise to such challenges in bringing
planned product and technological innovations to fruition. The Audi Group’s high appeal as an
employer has been repeatedly confirmed in numerous independent surveys both in Germany and
internationally; this reputation should help the Company to continue retaining and attracting
the best and most-qualified employees.
The positive image of the Audi brand is another key factor behind the Company’s sustained posi-
tive development. The large number of national and international awards reflects the growing
popularity of and enthusiasm for the brand with the four rings. The focus is always on sportiness,
sophistication and progressiveness. This positive perception offers the Audi Group the opportunity
to maintain its qualitative, sustainable growth in the future, too.
In the next two years we see opportunities for growth particularly in the Asian sales markets China
and India, as well as in the United States and Russia. To tap that potential as effectively as poss-
ible, we have plans for the further expansion of the international dealer and service network.
Over and above its internal strategies and scope for action, the Audi Group’s corporate develop-
ment could also benefit from external opportunities such as social and political developments.