Photo: Audi
Assembly lines for the second generation of the Audi Q3 rolled into motion this week at the carmaker’s facility in Gyor, Hungary.
The first ever SUV to exit the manufacturing bay doors at the Hungarian facility is a Turbo Blue Q3. The model accompanies in the shop the nameplates already being built there, the A3 Sedan and Cabriolet, and the Audi TT Coupe and Roadster.
“The production of a Q model is a clear commitment to our site in Hungary; it strengthens our competitiveness and thus secures the long-term success of Audi Hungaria,” said in a statement Achim Heinfling, head of Audi Hungaria.
“I am proud of our employees, who have managed the start of production of the Audi Q3 with many years of expertise and great passion for the model.”
The Hungarians will be building the Q3 with a choice of three gasoline and one diesel engine – a plug-in hybrid might be offered further down the line - mated with either front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive. For transmission, the Q3 will use either a 6-speed manual or automatic configurations.
The facility in Hungary has been heavily updated to accommodate the production of the SUV, a decision made by Audi’s executives after witnessing the appetite of the Europeans for this type of car.
The production of the Q3 required the addition of 80,000 square meters worth of body shop and the installation of an army of 700 robots. Work on the new facility that will make use of more than 1000 people kicked off in early 2017.
Following the upgrade, the Gyor facility has an annual production capacity of 160,000 units. Audi did not say how many of them it hopes will be Q3 models.
Since its introduction in 2011, the Q3 has constantly sold in excess of 70,000 units each year. The best year for the nameplate was 2016, when over 90,000 buyers chose the model as their new car.
“The production of a Q model is a clear commitment to our site in Hungary; it strengthens our competitiveness and thus secures the long-term success of Audi Hungaria,” said in a statement Achim Heinfling, head of Audi Hungaria.
“I am proud of our employees, who have managed the start of production of the Audi Q3 with many years of expertise and great passion for the model.”
The Hungarians will be building the Q3 with a choice of three gasoline and one diesel engine – a plug-in hybrid might be offered further down the line - mated with either front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive. For transmission, the Q3 will use either a 6-speed manual or automatic configurations.
The facility in Hungary has been heavily updated to accommodate the production of the SUV, a decision made by Audi’s executives after witnessing the appetite of the Europeans for this type of car.
The production of the Q3 required the addition of 80,000 square meters worth of body shop and the installation of an army of 700 robots. Work on the new facility that will make use of more than 1000 people kicked off in early 2017.
Following the upgrade, the Gyor facility has an annual production capacity of 160,000 units. Audi did not say how many of them it hopes will be Q3 models.
Since its introduction in 2011, the Q3 has constantly sold in excess of 70,000 units each year. The best year for the nameplate was 2016, when over 90,000 buyers chose the model as their new car.
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