Major positive piece about Audi's plans in the Saturday NY Times Business Day Section
03-03-2007, 08:43 PM
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Here is a link to the article - may require login
<ul><li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/automobiles/03audi.html?ex=1173675600&en=5646346f5c64427a& amp;ei=5070&emc=eta1">http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/automobiles/03audi.html?ex=1173675600&en=5646346f5c64427a& amp;ei=5070&
03-04-2007, 04:23 AM
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I don't see Audi's US marketshare dramatically increasing in the US for two reasons....
1) They can't seem to get the customer service thing down. If you go to ClubLexus.com, you can find many stories from MB, BMW, and Audi defectors which all tell the same story...the Audi/BMW/MB dealership experience is hit and miss since AOA does not mandate customer service standards. Yes, yes, there is good Audi service and bad Lexus service, but the quality polls tell the story of service consistency.
2) While the auto techies will praise the advantages of Quattro, the simple truth is that AWD has become a commodity in the segment. Lexus, for example, has had direct AWD competitors for the A4, A6, and Q7 for a few years now. In the spring, the LS460 will get AWD as well and compete directly with the A8.
Sure, Audi will continue to sell well with the loyalists such as many of those here. But as the Audi loyalists age, the next generate will almost certainly not put up with Audi's treatment of customers when they can go to Lexus and get treated better.
2) While the auto techies will praise the advantages of Quattro, the simple truth is that AWD has become a commodity in the segment. Lexus, for example, has had direct AWD competitors for the A4, A6, and Q7 for a few years now. In the spring, the LS460 will get AWD as well and compete directly with the A8.
Sure, Audi will continue to sell well with the loyalists such as many of those here. But as the Audi loyalists age, the next generate will almost certainly not put up with Audi's treatment of customers when they can go to Lexus and get treated better.
03-04-2007, 05:31 AM
#4
Point 1 says it all. Audis group of dealers, as a whole, just cant get it together.
I believe that the disconnect is between AoA and the dealerships. My dealership NEVER stopped compaining TO ME about Audi. Of course, my dealership never called me when they found out that I was looking at BMW. Bad PR but not my issue anymore.
03-04-2007, 06:29 AM
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AOA also has to develop far more aggressive lease programs or a whole lot of...
...potential customers will never even get the opportunity to (a) find out how good a car the Audi is, and (b) experience first-hand how lousy the dealership experience (mine has been excellent, however) can be.
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03-04-2007, 08:38 AM
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some good points.
I like the A8--nice car no doubt. Audi's pricing, which has been hinted at below is pretty high, as well as their depreciation. Audi's directive of upcharging their cars to make themselves on par w/ MB & BMW isn't a great strategy.
Quattro is a good system, but other systems out on the market are very good. Putting xdrive on the 7 series will be quite interesting.
Audi needs it's core group (traditionally people that like German technology & engineering), but don't want to pay the price. It's going to take many years for the new philosophy to work--shove the traditional (cost conscious) buyer to VW, and attact new market segments. Until that happens, the depreciation costs that make their leases for A6, A8s quite high compared to MB & BMW.
Quattro is a good system, but other systems out on the market are very good. Putting xdrive on the 7 series will be quite interesting.
Audi needs it's core group (traditionally people that like German technology & engineering), but don't want to pay the price. It's going to take many years for the new philosophy to work--shove the traditional (cost conscious) buyer to VW, and attact new market segments. Until that happens, the depreciation costs that make their leases for A6, A8s quite high compared to MB & BMW.
03-04-2007, 01:01 PM
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I think Toyota's physical separation of Lexus dealers is one of the keys to their success.
Not to be snotty, but having VW and Audi showrooms and service desks together does not exactly speak loudly of the upscale image AOA wants to put forth.