Audi starts Q7 production in India, Q3 from mid-2013

Aurangabad, November 8, 2012: Audi has started production of the Q7 luxury-class SUV at its Aurangabad plant. Up to 1,000 of the Audi 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 Ingolstadt 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."

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.

"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. Increasing demand from Indian customers for the Audi 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 in the Indian market by 55 percent to 7,273 units, having already surpassed its record sales total of 5,511 cars for 2011.

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

In India, Audi supplies the A4, A6, A7 Sportback, A8 L, Q3, Q5, Q7, S4, RS 5 Coupé and TT Coupé models in India, as well as the Audi R8 and R8 Spyder supercars.