Audi Increases Growth in China by 17 Percent in 2008

Audi set a new sales record on the Chinese market in 2008, selling 119,598 vehicles in China and Hong Kong. This is an increase of 17 percent (2007: 101,996) and confirms Audi as the market leader in the premium segment. Construction has begun on a new assembly plant in Changchun to expand production capacity.

Sales of cars produced in Changchun increased 14 percent to 105,958 units, including 85,367 Audi A6L (plus 16 percent) and 20,591 Audi A4 models (plus 4 percent). Sales of imported vehicles were up 55 percent. The Audi TT (1,764 units) and the Audi Q7 (5,806 units) exhibited above-average growth of 68 percent and 52 percent, respectively. Sales of the Audi A8 increased 35 percent to 4,608 units, making China the world’s largest sales market for the Audi A8.

“We are extremely satisfied with the results in our largest foreign market,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “Even if the Chinese market does not grow as dynamically as in recent years, we will continue to pursue our growth strategy.”

Audi expects additional impetus for growth from the long-wheelbase version of the Audi A4, which was launched on the Chinese market at the start of 2009. Manufactured exclusively for the Chinese market, the Audi A4L is the first long-wheelbase version in the upper mid-sized segment.

Audi has been present in China since 1988 and for years has posted double-digit growth rates. To meet the growing demand, the cornerstone for an additional assembly plant was laid in Changchun in June 2008.

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 €2 billion 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 will present the complete results for the 2008 business year at its Annual Press Conference on March 10, 2009 in Ingolstadt.