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The new Audi Q5 will be built in Ingolstadt, Germany, according to a decision
made last week.
The new Q5 will start rolling off the Ingolstadt production line in 2008. The
decision also means that around EUR 300 million will be invested in the
production facilities over the next few years.
“The decision demonstrates what potential there is for industrial production
in Germany. We are delighted that the Audi Q5 will be built in Ingolstadt, now
that we have reached an agreement with the Works Council enabling us to build it
at a competitive cost,” said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board
of Management of AUDI AG.
The Audi Q5 will join the Audi Q7 as the Audi brand's second model in the
sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment.
“The Audi Q5 will be an overtly sporty vehicle that will add an important
product to the Audi model range. The Audi Q5 will take us a big step closer to
vehicle sales of 1.4 million per year, a target that we have set ourselves for
2015,” said Prof. Dr Winterkorn.
A total of some 1,700 workers will be involved in production of the Audi Q5
in Ingolstadt.
“This decision will also benefit employment at Neckarsulm, because both
plants will be very closely interlinked,” added Dr Winterkorn.
Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council of AUDI AG echoed the
positive message that the decision demonstrates.
“After some lengthy rounds of tough negotiations, we are delighted with the
outcome: Ingolstadt gets production of the Audi Q5! The overriding concern of
our works councils is to safeguard jobs at Audi's German locations in the long
term. The decision to build the Audi Q5 at Ingolstadt and also the recent
decision to build the R8 at Neckarsulm represent initial steps towards achieving
this goal.”
“We on the Works Council will continue to push for utilising existing
production capacity to the full, through new models,” Mosch added.
The Vice-Chairman of the IG Metall trade union and Deputy Chairman of the
Supervisory Board, Berthold Huber, also commented on the choice of location.
“This decision proves that it is truly possible to build high-quality,
marketable cars in Ingolstadt and therefore in Germany, for all the complaints
we have been hearing about excessive labour costs. The dedication, experience
and ability of a workforce are invaluable assets,” said Huber.
The Bavarian Prime Minister, Dr. Edmund Stoiber, likewise welcomed the
decision in Ingolstadt's favour.
“The fact that such an important model for Audi is going to be built in
Ingolstadt will provide a boost to Bavarian industry as a whole, because its
supply industry in the wider region will benefit, along with the immediate
location itself. I am delighted at this future investment in Bavaria as a
production base,” he said.
The decision to build the Audi Q5 at Ingolstadt is the third major decision
within a short space of time that AUDI AG has reached in favour of a German
location. Just a few months ago, it was announced that the new Audi A5 is to be
built in Ingolstadt, and the Audi R8 sports car in Neckarsulm. Production of the
Audi R8 will commence in the fourth quarter of 2006.
At present, the Audi A3, A3 Sportback, A4 saloon and Avant and, in
conjunction with Györ, the Audi TT Coupé and Roadster are built in Ingolstadt.
In 2005, a total of 510,416 vehicles left the Ingolstadt production lines.
The Audi A6 saloon and Avant and the A8 are built in Neckarsulm, with
production of the Audi R8 due to commence there in the fourth quarter of 2006.
In Neckarsulm, 241,070 vehicles were manufactured last year.
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