Audi opens high-tech complex in Neuburg an der Donau
Under one roof: Audi driving experience center, Competence Center Motorsport with Audi Sport customer racing and functions of Technical Development Investment of a high double-digit million amount, 460 employees Audi Board of Management Chairman Rupert Stadler: “With Neuburg, the Audi family continues to grow.”
AUDI AG is strengthening its presence in the Ingolstadt region: Audi today officially put the high-tech Audi Neuburg complex into operation after a construction period of just two years. In the presence of the Prime Minister of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, the Mayor of the city of Neuburg an der Donau, Dr. Bernhard Gmehling, and 250 other guests of honor, the 47-hectare site was opened by Prof. Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board of Management Member for Technical Development of AUDI AG, and Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council of AUDI AG. Under one roof, the complex accommodates the Competence Center Motorsport with Audi Sport customer racing, the Audi driving experience center and functions of the Technical Development division. Audi is investing a high double-digit million amount in the new site, which is approximately 20 kilometers west of the company’s main site in Ingolstadt and will provide employment for a total of 460 people.
Horst Seehofer, Prime Minister of Bavaria, welcomed the investment: “Engineering skills, innovation and automotive technology at the highest level – those are Audi’s trademarks. With Audi Neuburg, the global company is demonstrating its commitment to its sites in this region. That creates jobs, boosts growth and is an investment in the future expertise of the whole of Bavaria.” More than half of Audi’s investment by the year 2018 will flow into its sites in Germany, with more than a billion euros each year to be invested in Ingolstadt. “We appreciate Bavaria’s exceptionally investor-friendly climate and its high-tech attributes.
Audi launches “race experience”
Audi customers can book racing commitments with the R8 LMS Vehicles to be fielded by the Audi “factory” team Joest Offer is unique in the world
The Audi driving experience is expanding its portfolio by offering an opportunity that is unique in the world: effective immediately, Audi customers with sporting ambitions can book exclusive racing commitments with the Audi R8 LMS. Audi is making its Le Mans-winning team available for this purpose.
“For the first time, the Audi race experience offers customers the opportunity to participate in a race with a professional Audi ‘factory’ team without having to enter into a long-term commitment or to make a high financial investment,” explains Klaus Demel, who is in charge of the Audi driving experience. “I’m very happy that we’ve been able to win Audi Sport and Reinhold Joest’s team as a partners for this project.” The Audi R8 LMS that has been specifically developed for use in customer sport and was the GT3 car to be beaten last year right in its first racing season provides the base for the new Audi race experience. In addition, as many as 120 customers had the opportunity of an active driving experience with the 386-kW mid-engine sports car at the end of October 2009 during the Audi sportscar experience. The Audi race experience now marks the next stage. It offers customers the opportunity to contest races with the Audi R8 LMS themselves – on request even together with professional race drivers. The vehicles will be prepared and fielded by one of the world’s most successful sports car teams: the squad of Reinhold Joest that has won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans as many as six times for Audi and that will again compete in the French endurance classic on June 12/13 with the latest-specification Audi R15 TDI. “Actually, the idea of letting customers contest races with a high-caliber sports car like the R8 LMS could only have come from Audi,” says Ralf Jüttner, Managing Director of Joest Racing GmbH.
FC Ingolstadt 04 – Team building at the Audi driving experience center
Soccer pros, women’s team and U-21s join together for exclusive training event FCI captain Matip: “A great way to combine fun with concentration” New faces at the Bundesliga clubThe football department of FC Ingolstadt 04 paid a visit to the Audi driving experience center in Neuburg. The pro players of the Bundesliga club took part in an exclusive training event with the women’s team and the U-21s. Their experience included a chance to try out the Audi R8 on the handling course.
Taking a break from their preparations for the upcoming 2018/19 Division 2 season, the pros of FC Ingolstadt 04 along with players from the women’s and U-21 teams came together for a team building event at the Audi driving experience center in Neuburg. “As a long-standing main sponsor of FC Ingolstadt 04, we have a strong interest in ensuring that the players are well-versed in driving safety and how to react in certain road traffic situations,” explains Dr. Martin Wagener, head of AUDI AG’s central legal department. Leading the way for the professional team was captain Marvin Matip, who with eight years’ experience is the longest-serving player in the squad of trainer Stefan Leitl. After they were divided into four groups, the footballers took turns to face the different driving situations.