200 Audi Chinese Dealerships by 2013

Audi will expand its dealership network in China by adding 54 new stores in the country by 2013, as the company aims to increase its local operations and benefit from the significant growth of the local auto market. Furthermore, Audi is now hoping to sell 200,000 cars in China in 2013, compared to 2015 in the original plans, mostly thanks to the addition of new dealerships across the country.

The German brand announced earlier this year the opening of a new assembly hall at the facility in Changchun that will be used for the production of the A4 and Q5.

“This substantial increase in our production capacities will fuel our continued growth and boost China’s position as a strategically important market,” Rupert Stadler, Audi chairman of the board said in a release. “The expansion of our production capacities is a key mile marker along the route to this destination.”

“Changchun was China’s very first production site for premium vehicles. Today’s opening of this assembly hall paves the way for further innovation and sets a new standard in China's automotive industry," An Tiecheng, FAW-VW president added.

Audi posted a 37 percent sales increase in China in September compared to the same month of the previous year. It sold more than 15,000 vehicles, raising the total 2009 figures to 108,859, an increase of some 20 percent compared to the January-September 2008 time frame.

“We have significantly increased our sales in China in the past few months and are on course for a new record year,” Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi marketing and sales member of the board said in a release.