Audi, the German luxury carmaker, has embarked on an intensive recruitment drive and aims to hire around 600 employees over the next two years. The spate of new hires is in line with the slew of product launches and expansion of its national footprint across India. The company also continued its excellent performance in India this year with a sale of 3145 cars from January – July 2011, thus, surpassing its 2010 annual sales figure of 3003 cars – a growth of 93 per cent (Jan – July 2010: 1626 cars). The luxury car maker’s sale for July 2011 stood at 343 cars.
Globally too, Audi has announced plans to take on 10,000 new workers over the next few years. The brand with the four rings will increase its workforce from 60,000 to around 70,000 by the end of the decade. In addition to 782 apprentices, Audi will hire approximately 500 experts and entry level staff members in Germany this year and will invest over EUR 11 billion (Rs 69,885 crore approximately) by 2015.
“We at Audi India have adopted an aggressive expansion strategy for the year 2011 with the launch of class-defining models and strengthening of our dealer network not only in metros, but also in tier II & tier III cities of India. It is important for us to be present whereever our customer is and in line with this commitment, we have already made headway in 13 dealerships across the country. By 2011, we will have 18 dealers pan-India, with plans for new dealerships in markets like Coimbatore, Indore and Lucknow among others. In view of this expansion, we will be infusing skilled talent at three levels: corporate, dealership and production. We strongly believe that a competent workforce that exhibits and fosters Audi’s brand values of progressive, sporty and sophisticated, is one of the major contributors to profitable growth and will soon help us achieve the leadership position in the luxury car segment in India. This move is also a reiteration of our commitment to be a part of the India growth story”, said Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India.
Audi India produces the Audi A4, Audi Q5 and has recently announced the production of the all new Audi A6 in Aurangabad. Presently, we have 200 personnel working on Audi production lines and envisage increasing our employee strength by 100 per cent over the next two years. The manufacturing of the new A6 which soon arrives on Indian roads, will take place in 16 work cycles on one production line at the Aurangabad plant providing 126 local working places secured for the next years to come.
“The luxury automotive industry in India is poised for a giant leap forward. It is our constant endeavor to create a talent pool which will lead this industry to accomplish global excellence at a local level. In line with our commitment, Audi India will soon announce a collaboration with INDIA Future of Change to feature a series of multi-disciplinary contests that reach out to students of leading business and design schools across India. These nationwide contests are a unique attempt to explore and harvest innovative ideas and solutions for the Indian automotive industry,” he added.
Audi India recently opened a brand new showroom in Ludhiana. Early this year, Audi inaugurated showrooms in Chennai and Delhi. Further developments include Coimbatore, Delhi West, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai South and Surat. On the product front, Audi India has launched a slew of class-defining models this year, beginning with the Audi A8 L, the super sports cars, Audi R8 V10 and Audi R8 Spyder, the design marvel, Audi A7 Sportback and the high performance Coupé, Audi RS5. The new Audi A6, which soon arrives on Indian roads, will further consolidate Audi’s position in India.
Audi is the No.1 premium car brand in Europe and China and is currently the fastest growing luxury car brand in USA and India. While China has overtaken Germany as the single biggest market for AUDI, the brand is in the process of deploying some proven strategies from China to the Indian market, such as the product offensive, qualitative network growth and strong brand building process.
Audi India recorded a 100 percent growth from Jan – June 2011 with a sale of 2802 cars (1400 cars: Jan – June 2010). In June 2011, the company sold 408 cars – a growth of 75 percent over the same period last year (233 cars: June 2010).
The Audi model range in India includes Audi A4, Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi A7 Sportback, Audi Q5, Audi Q7, Audi RS5, the super sports cars Audi R8, Audi R8 Spyder available across the country in: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Mumbai West and Pune. Further developments include Coimbatore, Delhi West, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai South and Surat.
Solid sales
“We attribute our solid sales growth to our philosophy of thinking ahead of the curve and our ability to bring innovative and progressive products to India. With an exceptional sales performance in the first seven months, we are well poised to achieve our sales target of 5000 cars this year. We at Audi India have adopted an aggressive expansion strategy for the year 2011 and in view of this expansion we will be infusing skilled talent at all levels – corporate, dealership and production. This move reiterates our commitment to be a part of the India growth story and will help us achieve the leadership position in the luxury car segment in India”, said Perschke.
“We are pleased with our impressive sales performance over the last few months despite having phased out the previous A6 in April. This achievement without the A6 in our portfolio is indeed encouraging. The introduction of new A6 will play a significant role in making 2011 a defining year for Audi in India”, he added.
The year 2011 saw the launch of a slew of class-defining models, namely, the flagship, Audi A8 L, the super sports cars, Audi R8 V10 and Audi R8 Spyder, the design marvel, Audi A7 Sportback and the high performance Coupé, Audi RS5. Additionally, Audi continues to be the market leader in the luxury SUV segment in India with its Q5 and Q7 and in the super sports car segment with its R8.
The brand with the four rings is focused to strengthen its national footprint across India. This year the company opened showrooms in Chennai, Delhi and Ludhiana, with further developments planned in Coimbatore, Delhi West, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai South and Surat
Globally too, Audi is the No.1 premium car brand in Europe and China and is the fastest growing luxury car brand in USA and India. While China has overtaken Germany as the single biggest market for AUDI, the brand is in the process of deploying some proven strategies from China to the Indian market, such as the product offensive, qualitative network growth and strong brand building process.