Following its most successful year of sales yet, Audi has announced that it will invest £2.4 billion (Rs 23,084.78 crore approximately) into the company. The money will be used to produce 20 new or upgraded models before the close of 2016 in international markets as well as to launch its first all-electric SUV by 2018.
The new models will include the all-new Q2, the SQ7 TDI and the Q7e-tron, which uses a hybrid powertrain and can travel up to 56.32km in full-electric mode, and a new SUV due in 2018 that will be badged as the Q6. The all-new car will use an electric drivetrain and take influence from Q5 e-tron concept of 2015.
Audi made the announcement after it had revealed that the last financial year was its most successful ever as it sold 1.8 million cars, about 600,000 more than the year before. The carmaker has already delivered 620,100 cars in the first four months of this year, representing a 4.9% increase on the same period in 2015.
Brand CEO Rupert Stadler said at the carmaker’s Annual Meeting event that Audi will invest £2.4 billion into the business before the close of 2016, in order to maintain progress and grow profits further.
Audi also confirmed its intentions to digitalise its range and business processes, suggesting it could follow suit of Mercedes, which has invested heavily in offering digital service options that will allow customers to do things such as book showroom appointments or even buy a car through its website and app. Stadler is so confident in Audi’s rate of progress in digital technology that he expects it to produce a driverless car within a decade. “By 2025, we will see fully autonomous driving,” he said.