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Audi plans USD 15 billion investment in next 5 years

05 January 2011 08:12 (UTC +04:00)

Baku - APA-Economics. German automaker Audi is set to invest EUR 11.6 billion in the next 5 years, primarily in new products and technologies and also plans to hire about 1,200 skilled employees in 2011, SteelGuru reported.

EUR 5 billion is earmarked for investment at the German sites in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.

Mr Thomas Sigi member of the Audi board of management for human resources said that "Innovation requires people. For this reason, we want to hire around 1,200 experts in 2011 who will primarily bolster our electro mobility and lightweight construction fields of competence, as well as the implementation of our growth strategy."

During 2010, Audi recruited about 500 experts and 780 trainees who began their vocational training in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. In 2011 to 2015 period, the company plans to invest about EUR 11.6 billion, making this the biggest investment program in the company’s history.

Mr Axel Strotbek board member for finance and organization of Audi said that "With this investment, we are laying the foundation for sustained, profitable growth, and supporting our claim to leadership in the premium car segment."

About 80% of all investment, more than EUR 9.5 billion will go to developing new products and to technologies of the future such as electric and hybrid drive systems.

The company will introduce new models in 2011, including the new Audi A6 and the Audi Q5 Hybrid, the first full hybrid from the carmaker. In launching the new Audi Q3, which is manufactured in Martorell in Spain, Audi is occupying the midsize premium SUV segment for the first time.

Mr Strotbek said that "In addition to our foreign sites, the German sites will also profit greatly from Audi’s good worldwide prospects for growth, especially in China."