After a successful year 2012: Audi intends to continue its growth in 2013 (BILD)

Ingolstadt (ots) -

- Cross reference: Picture is available at
http://www.presseportal.de/galerie.htx?type=obs -

- Approximately 1.45 million automobiles of the Audi brand were
shipped in 2012; EUR 48.8 billion revenue, EUR 5.4 billion
operating profit and an operating return on sales of 11.0
percent.

- Rupert Stadler, CEO of AUDI AG: "We surpassed our targets in
2012 and added an attractive premium brand, Ducati, to our brand
portfolio."

- Audi continues its record investment program: approximately EUR
11 billion until 2015 for new technologies and innovations and
for the expansion of worldwide manufacturing structures.

- New Audi employees: In Germany alone, the company plans to
recruit approximately 1,500 people and will offer 700 young
people an apprenticeship.

The Audi Group surpassed its targets for the year 2012. Despite
the significant effects of the debt crisis in some countries and a
contracting overall market in Europe, the company posted record
figures for production, shipments, revenue and earnings. In the past
financial year, the brand with the four rings sold more than 1.45
million automobiles and increased its revenue to EUR 48.8 billion.
The Audi Group was also able to increase its operating profit to EUR
5.4 billion, a record result in the company's history so far. In the
full year, the operating return on sales of 11.0 percent was above
the strategic target corridor of eight to ten percent. In 2013, the
company intends to continue its growth and gain additional customers.
In addition, the automobile manufacturer from Ingolstadt plans to
recruit approximately 1,500 new employees in Germany alone, and will
offer 700 young people an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Audi presented all of its key figures for the past financial year
at its annual press conference held today at the company's
headquarters in Ingolstadt and attended by more than 300
international journalists. Rupert Stadler, the CEO of AUDI AG,
stated: "2012 was a very successful year for us. We surpassed our
targets and added an attractive premium brand, Ducati, to our brand
portfolio. We intend to continue our growth in 2013 and with two new
plants this year, we will create the right conditions to reinforce
our claim to leadership over the long term." As of 2016, Audi will
produce the next generation of the Q5 at its new plant in San José
Chiapa, Mexico.

2012 was another year of record figures for Audi: Worldwide, the
company shipped 1,455,123 automobiles of the Audi brand (2011:
1,302,659). That represents growth of 11.7 percent or approximately
152,500 additional customers. The brand with four rings increased its
revenue by 10.6 percent to EUR 48,771 million (2011: EUR 44,096
million).

Despite the increasingly difficult economic situation, the Audi
Group slightly increased its operating profit to the new record
figure of EUR 5,380 million in 2012 (2011: EUR 5,348 million). The
operating return on sales of 11.0 percent (2011: 12.1 percent) was
once again significantly above the target corridor of eight to ten
percent.

Distribution costs amounted to EUR 4,593 million in 2012 (2011:
EUR 3,599 million). The increase compared with the prior year is due
to the larger sales volume and higher marketing costs, as well as the
market launch of additional models and the implementation of
strategic sales concepts such as Audi City in London and Beijing.

The Audi Group?s net financial income in the year under review
amounted to ?576 million (2011: EUR 692 million). As a result, the
Group posted profit before tax of ?5,956 million (2011: EUR 6,041
million).

The main return figures reflect the company's strong
profitability. They demonstrate that the Audi Group continues to be
one of the world's most successful automobile manufacturers. In
addition to the operating return on sales of 11.0 percent, the return
on sales before taxes reached the excellent level of 12.2 percent
(2011: 13.7 percent). The return on capital was 30.9 percent (2011:
35.4 percent).

For Axel Strotbek, Board of Management Member for Finance and
Organization at AUDI AG, the company?s high profitability reflects
the success of the growth strategy. The CFO regards investing in the
future as evidence of farsighted management: "We already initiated
the biggest investment program in our history in 2011. We now plan
total investment averaging more than EUR 3.5 billion each year until
2015, in order to effectively pursue our growth path."

The company would not be able to meet its targets without highly
motivated employees. The Board of Management therefore thanks all
members of the Audi workforce for their efforts and commitment. Once
again, the employees of AUDI AG will benefit from a profit share for
last year: Employees at the German sites covered by collective pay
agreements will receive an average profit share of EUR 8,030. For the
year 2013, AUDI AG plans to recruit 1,500 additional employees in
Germany alone. And once again, approximately 700 young people will
start an apprenticeship or traineeship at Audi this year.

The Audi Group anticipates a slight increase in revenue in the
years 2013 and 2014. The development of earnings will profit not only
from the targeted growth in unit sales, but also from the continuous
improvements in productivity and processes initiated in the past, as
well as from efficient corporate structures. Despite high expenditure
for new products and technologies - in particular to fulfill stricter
CO2 regulations all over the world and investments to expand the
international production network - the company anticipates an
operating return on sales at the upper end of the strategic target
corridor of eight to ten percent.

Further information: www.audi-mediaservices.com/apc2013

Contact:
Communication Corporate
Julio Schuback
Press Spokesman Finance and Organization
Telephone: +49 841 89 38455
E-mail: julio.schuback@audi.de
www.audi-mediaservices.com