Audi 2014 Annual Report Download - page 9

The key figures also give out a very
clear message: In , the Company
succeeded in increasing deliveries of
its core brand Audi by . percent to
,, cars. Furthermore, we achieved
new sales records in over  markets.
Despite considerable upfront expendi-
tures for new models and technologies
as well as for the expansion of the
international production structures,
the operating return on sales reached
. percent and was therefore within
the strategic target corridor of eight
to ten percent.
All these achievements by the Audi Group
are principally down to the great com-
mitment of all the people who work for
it. The Supervisory Board expresses its
sincere thanks to all employees and
business partners for their outstanding
eorts over the past fiscal year.
The Board of Management gave regular,
up-to-date, comprehensive accounts
of its actions to the Supervisory Board.
Decisions of fundamental importance
were discussed in detail by the Board of
Management and the Supervisory Board.
The Supervisory Board considered the
economic framework and the Company’s
business progress and policy as well
as its risk management and risk situation
at ordinary meetings of the Supervisory
Board convened each quarter and on
the basis of regular oral and written re-
ports from the Board of Management,
and consulted the Board of Management
closely on these matters. The Chairman
of the Supervisory Board also held consul-
tations with the Chairman of the Board
of Management in between the regular
meetings, on such topics as the Company’s
strategy, business policy, business per-
formance and risk management.
In addition, at its four ordinary meet-
ings in , the Supervisory Board
considered at length the opportunities
and risks for Audi in key markets such
as the United States, China, Russia, India
and Europe. The Supervisory Board
also held consultations with the Board
of Mana ge ment on the Company’s
strategic direction over the next five to
ten years. Other subject areas discussed
public and its customers. One specific
highlight was the third-generation
version of the Audi TT design icon. Audi
broadened its oering of alternative
drive systems with two new additions
to the A premium compact family, the
A Sportback e-tron and g-tron. In the
full-size category, the A and A were
also extensively revised. The Audi Group
continued to invest substantially in
expanding its international production
network – for example, by setting
up new plants in Me xico and Brazil,
where construction work continued
according to schedule in the past
fiscal year.
The past fiscal year brought expansion
of the global economy despite continuing
structural challenges in many countries,
and it was also another year of growth
for the global car market. This develop-
ment was mainly driven by the car
markets in China and the United States.
There were also positive signs from
Western Europe, where the market for
automobiles stabilized further.
 also saw Audi grow in multiple
respects. As part of its long-term 
growth strategy, the brand again
brought an array of fascinating models
onto the market which delighted the
PHOTO : Volkswagen AG
Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Martin Winterkorn
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Fuel consumption and emission figures at the end of the Annual Report