MANILA, Philippines -The Audi Group surpassed its targets for 2012. Despite the significant effects of the debt crisis in some countries and a contracting overall market in Europe, the company posted record figures for production, shipments, revenue, and earnings. In the past financial year, the brand with the four rings sold more than 1.45 million automobiles and increased its revenue to €48.8 billion. The Audi Group was also able to increase its operating profit to €5.4 billion—a record result in the company’s history. In the full year, the operating return on sales of 11.0 percent was above the strategic target of eight to 10 percent.
In 2013, the company intends to continue its growth and gain additional customers. It also plans to recruit 1,500 new employees in Germany alone, and will offer 700 young people an apprenticeship.
Rupert Stadler, the CEO of Audi AG, stated: “2012 was a very successful year for us. We surpassed our targets and added an attractive premium brand, Ducati, to our brand portfolio. We intend to continue our growth in 2013 and with two new plants this year, we will create the right conditions to reinforce our claim to leadership over the long term.†As of 2016, Audi will produce the next generation of the Q5 at its new plant in San José Chiapa, Mexico.
2012 was another year of record figures for Audi: Worldwide, the company shipped 1,455,123 automobiles of the Audi brand (up from 1,302,659 in 2011 for an 11.7 percent growth).
Despite the increasingly difficult economic situation, the Audi Group slightly increased its operating profit to the new record figure of €5,380 million in 2012 (2011: €5,348 million). The operating return on sales of 11.0 percent (2011: 12.1 percent) was once again significantly above the target corridor of eight to 10 percent.
The Audi Group’s net financial income in the year under review amounted to €576 million (2011: €692 million). As a result, the Group posted profit before tax of €5,956 million (2011: €6,041 million).
The high investment volume of recent years is paying off. The new Audi Q3 was launched in the first markets in the fall of 2011 and was thus available for its first full year in 2012. In Europe alone, Audi handed over nearly 80,000 units of the compact SUV to customers. The Audi A6 Avant has also been at dealerships since the fall of 2011 and is responsible for strong growth impetus on the brand’s home continent. Sales of this large wagon increased in the region by 38.9 percent to approximately 63,100 automobiles in 2012. Across all models, the Audi brand sold about 739,000 cars in Europe last year, improving by a significant 1.8 percent compared with the prior year.
In the U.S., the company set new sales records in each month of 2012 and maintained its lead in the premium segment in China. Audi achieved record unit sales in more than 50 markets last year.
Once again, employees of Audi AG will benefit from a profit share for last year. Employees at the German sites covered by collective pay agreements will receive an average profit share of €8,030.
Audi continued its model offensive at the recent Geneva Motor Show, with the A3 Sportback e-tron. The A3 sedan will also have its world premiere this year and will strengthen Audi’s position in important markets such as the U.S and China. In addition to the RS 7 Sportback and the RS Q3, the RS 6 Avant and the RS 5 Cabriolet will also be launched in 2013.