Audi Plans to Overtake BMW in Sales by 2016

AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
8213 photos
27 videos
wants to be the leader of the German luxury market by 2016 and has announced plans to invest €13 billion ($17 billion) in new products and engineering to do so. The goal is to overtake BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
8471 photos
43 videos
in terms of sales in that time frame. From January to November, Audi has sold 1.344 million cars, and BMW has sold 1.644 million cars. In comparison, Mercedes has sold 1.195 million cars in the same period.

Of that money, €10.5 billion will be invested in new vehicles and developing new technology especially for lighter weight and electrified powertrains. The other €2.5 billion will be invested to expand Audi's factory in Hungary, expand the factory in China and build the new factory in Mexico. 

The company has a further goal to sell 2 million cars by 2020. Volkswagen is encouraging the effort because it furthers its goals to become the world's largest automaker by 2018. As a whole, VW is investing €50.2 billion in all of its brands through 2015. 

BMW is not going to stand on the sidelines and allow Audi to take its lead. It is creating smaller, front-wheel drive cars and is using a new modular engine family. It is betting that cheaper cars will increase sales. Still, due to the European downturn, BMW sales are projected to drop slightly next year to 1.54 million cars. 

Source: Automotive News Europe