A1 production starts in Brussels

The official starting signal for production of the Audi A1 was given by Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AUDI AG, and Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG in a ceremony also attended by Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme and Minister-President of the Brussels Capital Region Charles Picqué. The Audi plant in Brussels staged the event as it is the location where the new Audi model will be produced.

“The start of production of the A1 and an investment of three hundred million euros in the Audi Brussels plant is a clear sign in favor of the automotive industry in Europe – we are competitive here and the car is and will remain a powerful driving force for growth and innovation,” said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn.

According to Rupert Stadler “The A1 represents an important milestone for our company. Firstly, we are charting new territory with the model by launching the first premium vehicle in the subcompact segment. Secondly, the new model will play an important role in helping us to once again reach the record mark of one million vehicles sold in 2010, thus continuing our success story.”

Audi AG is planning an annual production volume of 100,000 units of the Audi A1. Until the end of the year the brand has planned the production of 50,000 units. In 2011 the production should grow up to 80,000 units.

Throughout the years the investments from Audi in the Brussels site means that it now has building capacity of around 500 vehicles a day in two shifts. During the ceremony the guests had the opportunity to admire the renovated production areas, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and ergonomic workplaces at the Brussels plant.

Located in the Forest district of Brussels this Audi plant was founded in 1949. Since 2007, year when Audi AG assumed the management for the plant, it is the place where the Audi A3 Sportback is built. The plant employs approximately 2,200 people.