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Audi Wants N.A. Plant
Audi is looking to expand production into North America and will be making a decision on where and when to do that within the next three years.
In an interview with Automotive News, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said the brand needs local production in North America if it is going to expand its sales in the region.
"It is totally clear that we need new production capacity in the U.S.," said Stadler. "The question only is when."
Audi is also feeling the pressure of high demand on its current production capacity.
"Our dealers currently ask for more cars than we can deliver. Our delivery times are still too high," said Stadler.
The VW Group is also considering building a new engine and transmission plant in North America which will also supply the Audi brand.
Audi has a goal of reaching 1.5 million unit sales per year globally by 2015 and 2 million by 2020. The Ingolstadt-based brand hopes to sell around 150,000 units in the United States by 2015 and reach 200,000 unit sales there by the end of the decade.
North American production is a must for the VW Group if it is going to expand sales on the continent and do so profitably. The euro-dollar exchange rate has plagued European automakers for much of the last decade and there doesn't seem to be an end to the strong euro. Even given the current debt crisis in Greece which has affected the value of the euro against certain currencies, the euro-dollar rate has remained stubbornly high at around $1.40 for a euro - with the United States experiencing its own debt and budget crisis at the moment too.
In an interview with Automotive News, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said the brand needs local production in North America if it is going to expand its sales in the region.
"It is totally clear that we need new production capacity in the U.S.," said Stadler. "The question only is when."
Audi is also feeling the pressure of high demand on its current production capacity.
"Our dealers currently ask for more cars than we can deliver. Our delivery times are still too high," said Stadler.
The VW Group is also considering building a new engine and transmission plant in North America which will also supply the Audi brand.
Audi has a goal of reaching 1.5 million unit sales per year globally by 2015 and 2 million by 2020. The Ingolstadt-based brand hopes to sell around 150,000 units in the United States by 2015 and reach 200,000 unit sales there by the end of the decade.
North American production is a must for the VW Group if it is going to expand sales on the continent and do so profitably. The euro-dollar exchange rate has plagued European automakers for much of the last decade and there doesn't seem to be an end to the strong euro. Even given the current debt crisis in Greece which has affected the value of the euro against certain currencies, the euro-dollar rate has remained stubbornly high at around $1.40 for a euro - with the United States experiencing its own debt and budget crisis at the moment too.
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