Audi chief Gernot Döllner said the company will need more compact organisations, faster processes and quicker decisions to cope with the sector’s disruption. He told the Augsburger Allgemeine that cost‑cutting alone cannot shape the future and that Audi must both raise efficiency and evolve its business model.
Regarding the Neckarsulm plant, Döllner stressed that a closure has not been decided, although there is no follow‑on allocation planned for after 2034. The goal is to achieve a competitive cost structure for the facility through structural measures, while also working substantially on costs at the Ingolstadt site.
He cited headwinds from China as a key pressure point, noting that the overall automobile market there is cooling significantly. Additionally, customers are turning away from combustion‑engine vehicles because of higher gasoline prices and are preferring electric models.
