Audi Reconsiders US Production Plans

Last time we heard of Audi’s plans to make cars in America, the Ingolstadt carmaker was ruling out the idea because of low local sales figures. Despite the clear benefits gained by being less dependent on currency fluctuations, the company had too many issues with finding parts suppliers that could build components and subassemblies on North American shores.

That, of corse, was back in 2009, when the financial crisis had the auto industry’s head in a vice, but things have changed since then, and apparently so has Audi’s decision. According to Auto News, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler is willing and able to make four-ringed sedans, compacts or crossovers on US soil.

"It is totally clear that we need new production capacity in the U.S.. The question only is when," the official said.

So what has changed between the time when they VW Group’s premium brand was all against the idea to when the CEO sees US production as a necessity? For starters, the days of the financial crisis are long gone (let’s hope), and Audi has just reported record sales for the first six months of the year, with a record 652,950 cars getting new owners across the globe. In the US alone, the German company has increased deliveries by 15.4 percent over the already record figures achieved in 2010.

The US market still has plenty to give if Audi manages to find a way to lower base prices. In addition, VW has manufacturing facilities it could share with its co-brand. However, there’s plenty of unknowns left to be answered, including models, location and capacity. So you can bet that it will take a couple more years before you can buy an Audi assembled by Americans.