Audi Reports Record 2008 Profits and Sales, Pays €5,300 Bonus to each Employee

In spite of the widespread financial crisis, the Audi Group reported that it ended the 2008 fiscal year with record-breaking figures for production, vehicle deliveries, revenue and profit. Deliveries of Audi brand vehicles were up 4.1 percent to the record total of 1,003,469 automobiles, revenue for fiscal 2008 also reached a new all-time high of €34,196 million, representing growth of 1.7 percent while profit after tax was €2,207 (1,692) million, a rise of 30.4 percent

However, it should be noted that 2009 did not begin with the best omens as from January to February 2009, the Audi brand sold 119,600 cars worldwide, a 20.3 percent decrease compared to the prior-year period.

"With our 13th successive deliveries record, 2008 was the most successful fiscal year in the history of our company. We have been steadily improving our productivity in recent years, and the main financial figures for 2008 reflect this. These positive effects make it easier for us to respond appropriately to the crisis," said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG.

Thanks to the firm's profitability in the 2008FY, Audi will reward the performance of its roughly 43,000 wage-scale employees at its German plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm this year with an average bonus of €5,300 ($6,700) thus maintaining the level of the previous year.