Audi begins Q7 production in India

Audi has started production of the Q7 luxury-class SUV at its Aurangabad plant. Up to 1,000 units of the Q7 will be built there each year to supply the Indian market. Following on from the A4, A6 and Q5, the Q7 is the fourth model to be built in India by the carmaker.

“Local production of the Audi Q7 is part of our long-term growth strategy in India, one of the most promising auto markets in the world,” said Dr Frank Dreves, Audi Board Member for Production.

“The very good infrastructure in the plant, efficient working processes, a qualified workforce and a well-developed logistics environment, along with the surging growth of the Indian market, were the factors that motivated us to expand the Aurangabad plant,” he added.

“Local production of the Q7 means Audi India is now building a second Q model locally. That will reduce waiting times for our customers and we will be able to offer a wider range of versions in the market,” explained Michael Perschke, head of Audi India.

The Q7 will be produced in a newly constructed hall at the group plant of Škoda Auto India. Production of the Q3 in the new Audi hall, which covers a floor area of 20,000 square metres, is also planned from mid-2013.

Audi is well on way to achieve its 2012 sales target of 8,000 units. Increasing demand from Indian customers for the Q3, Q5 and Q7 SUV models has had a major impact on the brand’s growth in India. Over the first 10 months of this year, the carmaker has increased its sales by 55 percent to 7,267 units, having already surpassed its record sales total of 5,511 cars for 2011. It sold 850 units in October 2012, a strong growth of 76 percent (October 2011: 482 units).

At dealer level, too, Audi is steadily building up its nationwide presence in India. The carmaker says there will be 25 dealerships throughout the country by the end of this year. New showrooms have been opened in Kanpur, Goa, Navi Mumbai, Coimbatore, Delhi West, Nagpur and Bhopal in the past few months.

“Keeping our performance in mind, we are confident of surpassing the 2012 sales target of 8,000 units even before the year comes to an end. Our product offering, brand positioning and aftersales services are finding resonance with discerning luxury customers in India. It is their aspiration for real luxury mobility that is fueling our growth,” concluded Perschke.