Audi will halt production of the A3 at its main plant in Ingolstadt, Germany, next month because of slow demand.
The Audi A3 TDI was recently named the 2010 Green Car of the Year at last year's Los Angels Auto Show by a panel of distinguished car journalist and car enthusiast. The award was presented to Audi’s U.S. chief Johan de Nysschen at a ceremony in LA.
"We will look back at 2009 as a turning point for American
understanding of the advantages provided by Audi TDI clean diesel
technology, in terms of reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas
emissions," de Nysschen recently said.
The one week work suspension suspension is planned from Feb. 15 to Feb. 19, Antje Bauer, a spokeswoman, said in Ingolstadt, Germany, and will effect 4500 workers who will have to drop their shifts.
“Demand is shrinking following the expiration of government incentives
and because the A3 as a model is aging,” Bauer added. “We’re confident
we won’t need to extend the production pause beyond that week.”
According to Bloomberg.com:
"Audi, which has a goal of dethroning Bayerische Motoren Werke AG as the
world’s largest luxury automaker by 2015, remains “on course” toward
boosting sales to 1 million cars and sport-utility vehicles this year
from 950,000 deliveries in 2009, Bauer said, citing extra shifts for
the A4 and A5 models at Audi’s plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm,
Germany."
Audi is owned by Volkswagen AG and builds and sells premium cars. The production line suspension was reported by Ingolstadt-based newspaper Donaukurier.
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