Audi Press Conference, Auto China 2014, Beijing

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It’s great to be back to Beijing. We deliver on our promise. Two years ago, we presented the Audi A6 L e-tron concept here. Today, I can tell you: We are going to bring it to the market. Audi is shaping the future of electric mobility.

Already today we have three full hybrids in the Chinese market: the Audi A6*, the Audi A8* and the Audi Q5 hybrid quattro*. We are creating solutions that are amazing, not only because they are future-oriented and technologically advanced. We are creating solutions rather because they make sense for our customers. That’s why we strongly believe in our Audi e-tron plug-in hybrid strategy.

Our first plug-in hybrid on the Chinese market will be the Audi A3 Sportback*.

It comes to the market as of 2015 and combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor. Its electric range meets the need of the daily commute: It allows you to drive up to 50 kilometers completely emission-free – for example in the city or in urban areas. And with an overall range of up to 940 kilometers, the A3 e-tron is also a champion of long distances.

This plug-in hybrid is the first in the premium compact class. And it is a very powerful one: The Audi A3 e-tron offers a system performance of 204 horsepower and a maximum speed of 222 kilometers per hour. Standard fuel consumption is 1.5 liters and CO2 emissions per kilometer is 35 grams: That’s where our engineers made a real breakthrough. With the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, we combine sustainability, efficiency and dynamics like never before.

In the years to come, we will globally launch a new Audi e-tron every year: I have already mentioned the A3 e-tron and the A6 e-tron. Our flagship model A8 and our top SUV model Q7 will be offered as e-tron models as well. Our goal is to have an e-tron version of all key model series by 2020.

With a plus of more than 21 percent in China, we have just reported the most successful first quarter in our history. Here, we are serving our largest single market and in fact, China has become our second home.

This strong position is the result of two key success factors: With 25 years in the market, we have the deepest understanding of what our customers need. And, we have a strong partner at our side.

Currently, we are preparing for continued success and prosperity. In 2014, we strive to outperform the general market growth in China and achieve a double-digit growth rate. In other words, we are very focused to deliver far more than half a million automobiles to our customers.

Just to mention two milestones of our progress: We are extending our production capacities in Changchun and Foshan up to 700.000 automobiles per year with Foshan being home to the promising Audi A3 Sedan. And we are opening a new dealership almost every week.

You see: We are committed to further extend our leadership as  the number-one premium automotive brand in China. Thank you.

Fuel consumption of the models named above:

Audi A3 Sedan:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7 – 3,8;
Combined CO2-emissions in g/km: 162 – 99

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron:
Provisional data:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 1,5;
Combined CO2-emissions in g/km: 35

Audi Q5 hybrid quattro:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 6,9;
Combined CO2-emissions in g/km: 159

Audi A6 hybrid:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 6,2;
Combined CO2-emissions in g/km: 145

Audi A8 hybrid:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 6,3;
Combined CO2-emissions in g/km: 146