Audi has decided to build a new car assembly plant in North America and is seriously considering adding an engine and transmission plant, probably at a later date. However, the German company has not yet come up with a final plan, as Audi’s CEO, Rupert Stadler, pointed out to Automotive News: “It is totally clear that we need new production capacity in the US. The only question is when”.
And while Stadler didn’t clarify where it will be made, or which models are to be manufactured in the States, he added that all decisions will be made within the next three years.
The German luxury car manufacturer has made this decision because its sales in the Unites States are booming. For example, in 2010 Audi set a new sales record with 101,629 units. In addition, the Ingolstadt-based company projects a 10-20% increase this year, and more than 150,000 deliveries annually by 2015.
Stadler made it clear that inventory is a problem for Audi in the US: “Our dealers currently ask for more cars than we can deliver. Our delivery times are still too high.” Moreover, according to the brand’s “Strategy 2020” plan, Audi, which last year sold 1.1 million cars globally, aims to double its global sales until 2020.
A source from within the company told Automotive News that Audi is also considering building another factory in North America to manufacture engines and transmissions. This plant will most likely be shared with the local VW division.
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