At AUDI AG’s Annual Media Conference, CEO Gernot Döllner and CFO Jürgen Rittersberger presented and assessed the financial result for the 2023 fiscal year. They also offered a glimpse of the numerous models to be launched over the next two years and provided information on the company’s strategic focus. Their key statements at a glance:
With its characteristics, the electric SUV stands for Vorsprung durch Technik. The model is defined not only by impressive driving and charging performance, but also by increased efficiency and long range. The Audi Q6 e-tron embodies typical Audi SUV styling with a further refined e-tron design language. The new design philosophy in the interior and pioneering technologies debuting in the new model, begin the next chapter in electric mobility for the Four Rings and make Vorsprung durch Technik a tangible experience every day. With the Q6 e-tron range, e-mobility is coming from the Ingolstadt plant for the first time. The Audi Q6 e-tron quattro and SQ6 e-tron will be available to order from March 2024 at a price of 74.700 and 93.800 euros and will be delivered to customers in the third quarter of 2024.
The PPE, developed jointly with Porsche, and the E3 1.2 electronic architecture are important milestones in the expansion of Audi's global range of electrically powered models. They mark the start of a comprehensive strengthening and rejuvenation of the model portfolio. The Q6 e-tron underpins Audi’s promise to offer electric vehicles in all core segments by 2027.
With the launch of Premium Platform Electric (PPE), Audi is introducing a completely new electronics architecture. The E³ will be used for the first time in the 1.2 specification in the Audi Q6 e-tron series. The name E³ stands for end-to-end electronic architecture. Its core element consists of five high-performance computers (high-performance computing platform, HCP) that cover all vehicle functions – from the drive system and assistance systems to the infotainment and comfort systems to the safety systems and backend connectivity.
Audi Design sets the course for coming generations of models Marc Lichte to take new role within the group Audi CEO Döllner: “Making ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ visible and tangible“
Massimo Frascella is the new Head of Audi Design. On June 1, he is scheduled to succeed Marc Lichte, who will take a new role within the group. Frascella, alumnus of the Istituto d`Arte Applicata & Design in Turin, began his career at Stile Bertone. Positions at Ford Motor Company and Kia followed. Since 2011, Frascella (52) held leading roles at Jaguar Land Rover, most recently as Head of Design for both brands.
Massimo Frascella: “Joining Audi is a very special moment for me. I am deeply honored to assume the role of Chief Creative Officer and to guide such a talented team in shaping the future of the brand to new heights of innovation and distinction. I believe in the emotional power of design to inspire, connect, and drive change, and I am here to nurture and promote creativity as the beating heart of our brand." Frascella’s philosophy: “Simplicity is the essence of my approach to design. I am passionate about creating designs that are free from superfluous ornaments and do not merely follow trends. Instead, we will rely on a timeless and sophisticated design language.” Together with Massimo Frascella, the company is now setting the course for the coming generations of Audi models. Over the coming years, multiple surges in technological innovation are set to decisively change shapes and functions across all vehicle segments. For this reason, Audi has recently restructured its design department to report directly to the Chairman of the Board of Management. Gernot Döllner sketches out his goal: “Design has always been part of the brand’s core, of the DNA of the Audi brand. That is why, especially during this phase of technological transformation, ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ must be visible and tangible in the interior and exterior of all coming series models.
“With the electrified drive, Audi has proven its “Vorsprung durch Technik” in one of the toughest competitions in the world. For the enthusiastic Audi employees, it was a great experience to see their successful motorsport drivers here in Germany.” On Wednesday, the three drivers and their co-drivers visited the plant in Ingolstadt. In addition to a tour of the site, the professional drivers also signed numerous autographs and attended the works meeting. There, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner introduced the successful rally drivers to the workforce and congratulated them on their success. A kind of bivouac around an original service truck exuded real rally flair on the Audi Piazza.
In the evening, CEO Gernot Döllner and the other board members welcomed the rally drivers and the team of Audi Head of Motorsport Rolf Michl in Neuburg an der Donau. A victory celebration on the Audi Sport premises marked the festive highlight of the day. The striking Dakar Rally trophy completes an impressive collection of the most important trophies from four and a half decades of motorsport at Audi. “My thanks go to a tireless and talented team and all three driver pairings. They made this success possible in such an unpredictable discipline,” said Rolf Michl. “We are happy to now hold the coveted trophy in our hands. This is the reward for a technically, sporting and organizationally intensive chapter.” On Thursday, the employees at the site in Baden-Württemberg also got to see the rally drivers. The day began at the Audi Böllinger Höfe before the workforce celebrated their drivers at an autograph session followed by a tour of the plant and a visit to the works meeting in Neckarsulm. This double appearance at both German sites is a great tradition at Audi: in the past, the best racing drivers from the Le Mans program, the DTM and customer racing regularly visited the enthusiastic employees in both cities after major successes.
Customers need to be able to experience Vorsprung durch Technik again. It will be our experienced, open-minded, and passionate Audi employees who will make this happen.” New E3 electronic architecture enables a unique interior experience The Audi Q6 e-tron series built on the PPE will be the first Audi model to use the new E3 electronic architecture, version 1.2. The name E3 stands for end-to-end electronic architecture. The architecture is based on a new domain computer structure with five high-performance computers (HPC or high-performance computing platform) that control all vehicle functions, from infotainment and driving functions to semi-automated driving in later stages of evolution. With the E3 1.2, Audi is bringing the latest electronic architecture and software it has jointly developed with CARIAD to its models, including brand-specific features. The electronic architecture, which is used scalably across the Volkswagen Group, represents the next step in the digitalization of the model portfolio. In addition to a new infotainment platform based on the Android Automotive operating system, E3 1.2 also provides the basis for fast software updates and upgrades. Thanks to a range of functions networking with each other, customers can look forward to a completely new interior experience. The infotainment system offers new functions such as the Audi store for apps in addition to new navigation features, all of which will provide an even more immersive experience in combination with the new display and operating concept. The new concept uses precisely orchestrated displays to present digital content, creating a digital stage in the interior. Much more information about the world premiere of the Audi Q6 e-tron model series can be found in the Audi MediaCenter.
Audi R8 most successful Le Mans sports car in present-day racing After the dominant quattro drivetrain was banned from touring car racing, Audi switched to sports prototypes and also underpinned its slogan “Vorsprung durch Technik” in this motorsport category for 18 years. Audi, on making its debut at Le Mans in 1999, the toughest endurance race in the world, immediately managed the leap onto the podium, finishing third overall. In the following years, the Audi R8 was in a class of its own. From 2000 to 2002, Audi achieved a historic hat-trick, not least thanks to the TFSI technology that debuted in 2001 and then also subsequently made its way into production. In 2004 and 2005, customer teams clinched two further overall victories for Audi. The R8 secured its spot in motorsport history with a total of 63 victories in 80 sports car races. Title wins following the return to DTM Following Laurent Aiello’s victory with the Abt-Audi TT-R in 2002, Audi returned to the DTM with a factory-backed commitment in 2004 and instantly won the title with Mattias Ekström. In 2007, the Swede triumphed again, followed by Timo Scheider in 2008 and 2009, making Audi the first and so far only automobile manufacturer in DTM history to have managed a title hat-trick. In the 2011 season, Martin Tomczyk completed the success story of the Audi A4 DTM with another title, the fifth in total for the Audi A4 DTM. In 2013, Mike Rockenfeller, diving the Audi RS 5 DTM, clinched the ninth DTM title for Audi. René Rast caused a sensation in 2017 when he clinched another title for Audi in his rookie year. Audi took home the manufacturer’s championship crown in the same year. In 2019 and 2020, Rast won the prestigious title two more times. Audi drivers have thus already won the DTM drivers’ title twelve times. Added to this are six manufacturers’ and eight teams’ titles.
‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ must be our aspiration. This has now been made management’s top priority. I am therefore looking forward to cooperating even more intensively with Gernot Döllner. All Audi employees’ thanks go to Oliver Hoffmann for his work. We wish him and the four rings much success in the premier class of motorsport.” Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG: “I thank Oliver Hoffmann for his tireless dedication as Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development. In recent years, Oliver has contributed significantly to the sharpening of the Audi product DNA that we are now bringing to market step by step with the launch of the Audi Q6 e-tron. In particular, the high-volume models based on the PPE and PPC, which are important for us, bear his signature.” Hoffmann’s extensive experience in motorsport makes him the right man at the right time. As Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development and as Head of Audi Sport, he was able to achieve great motorsport successes for the brand with the four rings. These include international wins and championships in customer racing, in DTM, and in the all-electric Formula E World Championship. Recently, Audi was the first manufacturer ever to win the famous and notorious Dakar Rally with an innovative electrified drivetrain. Preparations for the entry into Formula 1 in 2026 are in full swing. Oliver Hoffmann: “I would like to thank the entire team at Technical Development for the great performance in recent years, and I am proud of the outstanding products resulting from our intensive work that we will bring to the streets in the coming months. Motorsport, particularly Formula 1, is my big passion. I am convinced that by bundling responsibilities and taking over 100 percent of Sauber Group, we will further accelerate our preparations for the launch in 2026. I am pleased we were able to secure the services of Andreas Seidl as Audi F1 Team CEO.