Audi’s top executive has confirmed a US assembly plant will be built without saying when and an unconfirmed source suggested an engine and transmission plant will also be established, with output likely shared with parent Volkswagen.
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told Automotive News Europe in an interview all decisions on location, models and capacity of a US assembly plant would be made within three years.
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“It is totally clear that we need new production capacity in the US,” Stadler said. “The question only is when.”
A separate Audi source also told the trade paper that the carmaker was considering building an engine and transmission plant in North America to increase local content. That second plant could be shared with VW which has recently opened a US plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, building the North American version of the Passat.
Stadler was quoted as saying Audi plans to increase US sales by 10 to 20% this year and could surpass 150,000 units by 2015 and was struggling to meet dealer demand for cars with lengthy waiting lists.
“Our dealers currently ask for more cars than we can deliver,” he said. “Our delivery times are still too high.”
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By GlobalDataHe also said an original goal of 1.5m cars for 2015 will be reached a year earlier than planned and, by 2020, Audi wants to sell 2m cars.
An Audi spokesman confirmed the figures quoted in the interview but was unable to provide further details of US plant plans.
