OFFICIAL: AUDI AG acquires sports motorcycle manufacturer Ducati

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 07:39 AM PDT

OFFICIAL: AUDI AG acquires sports motorcycle manufacturer Ducati

AUDI AG is acquiring from Investindustrial Group the tradition-steeped Italian sports motorcycle manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., which has its registered office in Bologna. The transaction will be completed as quickly as possible once authorized by the competition authorities. The Supervisory Boards of AUDI AG and Volkswagen AG approved the acquisition today in Hamburg. Ducati is known worldwide as a leading brand in motorcycle manufacture, with outstanding expertise in engine development and lightweight construction.

Chairman Rupert Stadler: “As a sporty, global premium brand, Ducati is an excellent fit for Audi.”
Third pillar for AUDI AG in Italy
Ducati a leading player in engine technology and lightweight construction

Alongside the traditional Italian brands Lamborghini and Italdesign, Ducati is now a third pillar for AUDI AG in Northern Italy. Another building block in the Company’s growth strategy thus falls into place. Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, declared: “Ducati is known worldwide as a premium brand among motorcycle manufacturers and has a long tradition of building sporty motorcycles. It has great expertise in high-performance engines and lightweight construction, and is one of the world’s most profitable motorcycle manufacturers. That makes Ducati an excellent fit for Audi.” The progressive control systems and special combustion chamber process of Ducati engines, their resulting sporty character, and Ducati’s extensive know-how in lightweight construction thus offer great potential for AUDI AG and the Volkswagen Group.

Ducati 1199 Panigale S and the Audi R8 GT

Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council of AUDI AG, explains that the employee representatives of AUDI AG support the Company’s sustainable, co-determined growth strategy. “We must use the opportunities offered by globalization for Audi – and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Everyone at Audi is looking forward to working with our new colleagues from Ducati,” commented Mosch.

Ducati is a globally active company and has manufacturing operations at its headquarters in Bologna and at its own factory in Thailand. It maintains a series of importer companies in strategic markets. Experts predict that the motorcycle market will enjoy strong growth over the next few years, especially in Asia. In 2011, Ducati sold around 42,000 motorcycles and generated revenue of some €480 million, employing around 1,100 people.

The company was founded by Adriano and Marcello Ducati in Bologna in 1926. Known originally as Società Scientifica Radiobrevetti Ducati, it initially built parts for radios. It ventured into the manufacture of motorcycles in 1949.

Ducati has been actively involved in motorcycle racing for many decades through its racing division Ducati Corse. Its racing activities are currently focused on the Ducati official factory team in the MotoGP class of the Motorcycle World Championship and in the Superbike World Championship, supporting competitive private teams. Ducati won the manufacturers’ championship in this latter class 17 times in 21 championships and the pilots’ 14 times.

- Audi AG

Audi

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The Audi terminal in Dubai on track for November launch

Posted: 17 Apr 2012 06:21 AM PDT

ONEIGHTURBO

So far over 355,000 man hours have been spent on what will be the biggest Audi terminal worldwide in terms of new cars on display. The development, located between the second and third interchange on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, represents an investment of over AED 100 million by Al Nabooda Automobiles.

The official opening of the state-of-the-art showroom is expected three months ahead of schedule in November this year with a 300 strong team working double shifts. Following record sales figures in recent months, the German car manufacturer is now increasing capacities in a bid to become the number one premium brand in the UAE and Middle East market. Upon completion, the vast showroom will cover 94,000 square feet on three levels and offer display space for up to 57 cars. It is the first multi-floor car showroom in Dubai using an extensive array of lifts to move display vehicles to the second and third floors. Audi customers will enjoy valet parking service, an escalator and a panoramic lift, as well as state-of-the-art multimedia technology, including a power wall dedicated to virtual vehicle customization.

2 oneighturbo Audi Al Nabooda Automobiles Dubai 041712

Speaking about the new site, K. Rajaram, CEO of Al Nabooda Automobiles , said “Audi’s growth has been exceptional over the last years – in terms of volume and products. This investment will enable us to accommodate the increasing momentum and is a clear signal of our intent in the region. We are looking forward to the official opening in November and drawing international attention to Dubai.”

“The new Audi terminal is already three levels high and we encourage everyone passing by on Sheikh Zayed Road to watch the progress. The new showroom will feature a range of excellent facilities and demonstrates our commitment to providing exceptional levels of service for our customers in line with our strategy of customer delight”, commented Audi Middle East’s Managing Director, Jeff Mannering. “The Audi terminal in Dubai will be the most visible sign of the Audi brand offensive and our comprehensive and future-orientated line of products.”

In addition to the Sheikh Zayed Road project Al Nabooda Automobiles also announces the opening of new facilities in Fujairah, also in 2012, and Sharjah in 2013, totaling the investment for Audi to approximately AED 200 million across the three showrooms.

The Audi Group delivered around 1,302,659 cars of the Audi brand to customers in 2011. In 2011 the Company posted revenue of €44.1 billion and an operating profit of €5.3 billion. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Gy?r (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). The Audi Q7 is built in Bratislava (Slovakia). In July 2010, CKD production of the Audi Q5 was added to the existing Audi A4 and A6 manufacturing operations in Aurangabad (India). At the Brussels plant, production of the Audi A1 has been running since May 2010, while production of the new A1 Sportback began in 2012. The Audi Q3 has been built in Martorell (Spain) since June 2011. The Company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide. AUDI AG’s wholly owned subsidiaries include AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft., Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant’Agata Bolognese (Italy), AUDI BRUSSELS S.A./N.V. in Brussels (Belgium) and quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. Audi currently employs around 64,000 people worldwide, including around 48,000 in Germany. Between 2012 and 2016 the brand with the four rings is planning to invest more than €13 billion – mainly in new products, human resources and the extension of production capacities – in order to sustain the Company’s technological lead embodied in its “Vorsprung durch Technik” slogan. Audi is currently expanding its site in Gy?r (Hungary) and will start production in Foshan (China) in late 2013.

Audi has long been fulfilling its social responsibility on many levels – with the aim of making the future worth living for generations to come. The basis for Audi’s lasting success is therefore formed by environmental protection, the conservation of resources, international competitiveness and a forward-looking human resources policy. One example of AUDI AG’s commitment to environmental issues is the newly established Audi Environmental Foundation. Under the heading of “Audi balanced mobility,” the Company is directing its activities toward a major goal – comprehensive CO2-neutral mobility.

AUDI AG’s commitment to the region was confirmed through the foundation of its fully owned subsidiary in 2005. The current Middle East model range comprises the Audi A1, A3 Sportback and A4, the A5 Coupe, Sportback and Cabriolet as well as the RS 5, the A6, A7 and A8 L, the Q5 and Q7, the TT Coupe/Roadster and TT RS Coupe, the R8, R8 V10, R8 Spyder V10 as well as R8 GT and R8 GT Spyder.