Audi A4 and Audi 80 – Audi celebrates its ten millionth midsize car (2011)
- Production landmark is a Misano Red Audi S4
- Board Member for Production Frank Dreves: “We’re very proud of this accomplishment”
- Four generations of both Audi 80 and Audi A4 since 1972
The models in Audi’s midsize class – the Audi A4 and its predecessor, the Audi 80 – constitute the heart of the brand. The company recently celebrated a true milestone in production. In early October, the ten millionth midsize Audi rolled off the assembly line: a Misano Red Audi S4 with a black and alabaster-white interior and a V6 engine generating 245 kW (333 hp) of output.
“Ten million midsize vehicles is an achievement which makes us thrilled and proud,” says Frank Dreves, Board Member for Production at AUDI AG. “Thanks to its sophisticated technology and excellent quality, the Audi A4 is our bestseller – winning over customers in every market since it was launched. With our strong team and our effective Audi production system, we will continue writing this success story, especially as a modified version of the Audi A4 will soon be launched.”
Audi has been producing the A4 model family at its Ingolstadt site since 1994 and, since 2007, via the “production turntable” in Neckarsulm, as well. The Audi A4 sedan, the A4 Avant, the A4 allroad quattro, the S4 sedan, and the S4 Avant roll off the assembly line in Ingolstadt. A certain number of A4 sedan models are produced at the Neckarsulm site.
“The Audi A4 family ensures that capacity utilization will remain high in the long term at our key plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm – and therefore ensures job security,” explains Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council at AUDI AG. He adds: “This success was made possible in large part by our Production colleagues, who utilize their extensive expertise, relentless devotion to top quality, and considerable commitment to build the Audi A4.”
Peter Kössler, Plant Manager in Ingolstadt, emphasizes: “The success story of the Audi A4 could not have been written here without the productivity and motivation of our Ingolstadt team. Work in Production becomes more complex all the time. We master this challenge by means of our streamlined processes and the expertise of our top team.”
Midsize Audi models are proven champions – and have been for 39 years. Right from the very first Audi 80, launched in 1972, the brand with the four rings set new standards in lightweight design, performance, and agility. Four generations of the Audi 80 had been produced by 1994-95, when it was replaced by the Audi A4 – which is currently in its fourth generation. The five millionth Audi A4 left the factory in March 2011.
The extensive changes made recently make the Audi A4 more appealing than ever before. The sedan, the Avant, the allroad quattro, and the S4 models now feature technologies which make them even more efficient and sporty – regarding the engines, chassis, and infotainment. New design modifications lend visible expression to progress.
Midsize vehicles have always played the leading role at Audi – and not just in terms of volume. Over the course of 39 years, they have embodied monumental innovations. The quattro drivetrain with a self-locking differential, fully galvanized vehicle bodies, S tronic, and the sport differential have demonstrated, time and again, Audi’s commitment to Vorsprung durch Technik. The brand offered the Audi duo – a hybrid model based on the Audi A4 Avant – as long ago as 1997.
Midsize Audi cars have displayed excellence in motorsport, as well. The midsize class is namely home to legendary rallye vehicles – the Audi Rallye quattro and the Audi Sport quattro – as well as superior circuit racing cars such as the Audi 90 quattro IMSA-GTO, the Audi 80 Competition, the Audi A4 quattro (STW), and the Audi A4 DTM. Audi’s midsize class has always been ahead of the competition.
Five-millionth Audi A4 leaves the assembly line
- Jubilee car is an Audi A4 Avant 3.0 TDI quattro in Misano Red
- Production chief Frank Dreves: “Major milestone in Audi’s success story”
- Audi A4 is the most popular car in its class
Ingolstadt, March 30, 2011 – Today the Audi plant in Ingolstadt produced the five-millionth Audi A4 – an Audi A4 Avant 3.0 TDI quattro in Misano Red. This production milestone is the latest evidence of a success story that began in 1994 when the A4 model name was adopted. A great favorite with customers, the A4 accounts for a high proportion of production capacity at the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm plants.
In the words of Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG: “This is another major milestone in Audi’s history. All versions of the A4 are efficient, elegant and enjoy outstanding success in their class. Our highly motivated team and our effective Audi production system will keep this model on course for continued success in the future.” Audi began production of the A4 model line at its Ingolstadt site in 1994, and since 2007 has also been building it at Neckarsulm as part of the production turntable. Today the A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, A4 allroad quattro, S4 Sedan and S4 Avant are manufactured in Ingolstadt; the A4 Sedan also leaves the assembly line in Neckarsulm.
“The success of the entire A4 model family keeps our two main production plants fully occupied and safeguards the workforce’s jobs,” says Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council. “Audi owes this success to its employees, who have invested so much know-how, quality awareness and dedicated work in the A4.” Peter Kössler, Ingolstadt Plant Manager, declares: “The A4 success story at this production plant is impressive evidence of the performance that the Ingolstadt team is capable of. As the assembly lines become more and more complex, the task can only be handled with lean processes and the motivation of a high-performance team – just like we have at Audi.”
With its sporty chassis and many comfort, convenience and infotainment features taken directly from the full-size category, the A4 is a perfect expression of Audi’s technical expertise. Customers and car journalists alike vote it to the top of the list, as proved by the many awards it has gained. Readers of the German car magazine auto motor und sport were evidently convinced: In January they chose the A4 as “best midsize car” for the fourth year in succession.
The Audi A4 also scores impressively on the list of German-market cars that keep their value best. Auto Bild car magazine and residual value assessor EurotaxSchwacke chose it as the midsize car with the highest value retention, and the Audi Q5 gained the same title in the compact SUV class. These “Top Value for 2011” awards were presented in December 2010.