Audi to invest in new models

For the last planning period, from 2007 to 2011, the scheduled investments added up to E9.8 billion. The company has reported that E7.9 billion of the total investment has been allotted to new models alone. The brand with the four rings plans to expand its range of vehicle models from the current 25 to 40 by 2015. Annual investments will reach a steady level of around two billion euros. Next year Audi will be introducing several new models into the market. From 2008, the model range will be expanded by the Audi A3 Cabriolet, the Audi A4 Avant and the Audi Q5, among others. The course will also be set for the future at Audi's production sites: in 2008, Audi will be investing more than E1.1 billion in its plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. Of this total, E720 million have been allotted to Ingolstadt, with E400 million going to Neckarsulm. Axel Strotbek, member of the board of management at Audi for finance and organization, said: "Investment in new models, product innovations and core competencies is a necessary requirement for the successful continuation of Audi's growth."