Audi Management Academy launched

Notes and media contacts

About Audi

AUDI AG sold a total of 1,003,400 cars in 2008 and thus achieved its thirteenth consecutive record year. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Györ (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). Aurangabad in India saw the start of local production of the Audi A6 at the end of 2007 and of the Audi A4 in early October 2008. The company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide. AUDI AG's wholly owned subsidiaries include Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant'Agata Bolognese (Italy) and quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm.

Audi currently employs around 57,000 people worldwide, including 45,000 in Germany. The brand with the four rings invests more than €2bn each year in order to sustain the company's technological lead embodied in its "Vorsprung durch Technik" slogan. Audi plans to significantly increase the number of models in its portfolio by 2015 to 40. The Audi brand celebrates its 100th birthday in 2009. The company was founded by August Horch in Zwickau on July 16, 1909; he named it Audi after the Latin translation of his surname ("hark!").

AUDI AG's commitment to the region was confirmed through the foundation of its fully owned subsidiary in 2005: Audi Middle East. Sales in the Middle East rose by 21.2% to 7,732 cars in 2008 (2007: 6,380). The current Middle East model range comprises the A3 Sportback, A4 Saloon and Cabriolet, the A5, A6 and S6, TT Coupe and Roadster, the A8, S8, the Q5, Q7 and the R8.