December 20, 2013: Audi plans to increase its product range from 49 to 60 models in the coming years. The company will also look to sell two million cars per year by 2020. Speaking at an Audi event at the firm's Ingolstadt HQ a couple of days ago, boss Rupert Stadler wouldn't confirm which models will help to expand the company's portfolio, though he did make reference to the potential Audi sees in the SUV market, and the "prestigious full-size category."
That product expansion is likely to start in 2016 with the launch of the Audi Q1 (pictured). Based on the MQB platform, the new compact SUV will sit alongside Audi's current range of Q-badged models, including the Q3, RS Q3, Q5,SQ5 and Q7. Stadler has previously said: "The Q1 is part of our broad-based SUV strategy and a key component of our growth strategy."
Other models which will launch in the coming months include the Audi S1, which will come with a 220bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine when it arrives next year, and the next-gen Audi Q7 which will join it towards the end of 2014. A new Audi TT will also be seen in 2015.
The firm also confirmed it had achieved its target of 1.5 million annual deliveries two years ahead of schedule. The milestone delivery was to a customer in Germany, who took delivery of an A3 Sportback model. The firm has made over 680,000 sales in Europe alone so far in 2013.
Global sales up
Meanwhile, in November 2013, Audi AG has delivered around 132,050 cars to customers, 6.8 percent more than a year ago. Especially in China (+17.9 percent), the UK (+13.6 percent) and the U.S. (+13.0 percent), the luxury carmaker posted significant growth last month. In the first 11 months of the year, Audi delivered around 1,444,750 cars worldwide, representing an increase of 7.4 percent. During this period, the brand registered double-digit growth rates in each of the sales regions Asia-Pacific (+19.4 percent) and the Americas (+12.0 percent).