The Audi Group has proven its competitiveness with the best first quarter in company history. With 312,600 vehicles delivered in the first three months (2010: 264,017), Audi sold 18.4 percent more units worldwide compared to the same period last year. The company’s growth rates in all regions were in a clear double-digit range.
In the first quarter of 2011, the Audi Group increased revenue by 27.3 percent in comparison with the same period last year to €10,514 million (2010: €8,260 million).
Thanks to an improved model mix and continuous optimisation of processes and costs, the company also more than doubled its operating profit to €1,115 million (2010: €478 million).
“These earnings show that our qualitative growth strategy is working,” said Axel Strotbek, Member of the Board of Management for Finance and Organisation at AUDI AG. Thanks to the strong earnings performance, the 10.6 percent operating return on sales (2010: 5.8 percent) follows on from the good results in the third and fourth quarters of 2010. This strong growth underscores the high profitability of the Audi Group.
Strotbek took this opportunity to restate the annual targets, “We want to sell more than 1.2 million Audi brand cars in 2011 and also increase revenue and operating profit compared with last year. However, the high volatility of the relevant exchange rates and the rise in prices for important raw materials continue to represent risks for us.” He stated that the Audi Group has safeguarded itself well in order to continue the success of 2010 in terms of the key financial indicators.
The strong performance of the brand can be attributed, among other things, to the previous year’s model initiative. The A8 flagship, the A7 Sportback and the Audi A1 contributed greatly to making 2010 the strongest year in terms of sales in the company’s history. Demand for these models remained high in the first quarter of 2011.
Audi further enhanced the attractiveness of its product range this year. The new A6 arrived in European dealerships on April 1. The A6 Avant will become available during the second half of this year in Europe, helping the company to achieve its targeted delivery record. The A6 will make its Australian debut at the Australian International Motor Show on July 1. The company is also opening up a new market segment with the Audi Q3, which was presented in late April in Shanghai. This premium compact SUV is the new member of the successful Q family and will go on sale in Europe from June this year. Australian sales will commence in the second half of 2012.
The Audi Group plans to invest more than €11 billion by 2015. Over €9.5 billion is being invested in the development of new products and future technologies such as hybrid and electric drive systems. With the Audi Q5 hybrid quattro, the brand is making it possible to experience the technological lead embodied in its “Vorsprung durch Technik” slogan in the form of a sporty SUV. The first high-volume hybrid model to bear the four-ring logo will roll into European dealerships by the end of the year.
