“We’re very satisfied with the result for the first half-year, but are keeping our feet on the ground because we expect to face some difficulties in the second half of the year,” Axel Strotbek, Audi board member said in a release. “Despite this, we’re maintaining our targets of selling 900,000 vehicles by the end of the year and achieving a significant operating profit.”
Profit for the manufacturer before tax for the six months stood at 994 million euros, as opposed to the 1.4 billion euros posted last year, a drop of 27.5 percent compared. Profit after tax was around 697 million euros, down 25 percent from the 930 million euros posted for the first six months of 2008.
Audi has big hopes for the future, with most of them placed in the efficiency campaign designed for its vehicles. Audi has 31 models in its range with CO2 emissions lower than 140g/km. By fall, that number will increase to 50, with 2012 being set as the year when Audi will achieve a 20 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from its vehicle fleet. By 2015 the brand intends to increase its range to 42 models.
“Every year we invest around two billion euros in the development of innovative products and efficient driveline technologies,” Strotbek added.
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