One of the largest and most successful German automobile concerns has undergone remarkable development in recent years. Audi brand cars have always been considered a premium class; under the wing of the huge Audi-Volkswagen corporation, this brand has received enormous opportunities to use the best technologies, the most successful solutions in technical and design areas. It is these features that cars attract their customers, despite the ever-increasing price tags and incredible configurations in which you can find many unnecessary parts. Audi today competes with BMW, and is also one of the main rivals of Japanese and American luxury brands. This is precisely the fate envisaged by the current characteristics of corporate growth.
Among the first questions that potential car buyers ask is the question of car assembly. Many people believe that all Audi models, as premium cars, are assembled exclusively in Germany. In fact, the brand has a mass of assembly plants around the world, which explains its prevalence both on the distant shores of the Atlantic and in the difficult Australian market. It’s also an interesting fact that Audi cars are now officially recognized as the best purchase on the secondary market, which increases their popularity due to their proven quality and huge service life. Let's look at the main features of assembling cars of this German brand.
Where are Audis assembled for the Russian market?
Globalization has done its job: the country of assembly and the geography of assembly shops are gradually losing their importance. In addition, almost nowhere in the world is there such a thing as the complete production of a vehicle in one plant. The production of parts is too specific, so components are manufactured in different places and then assembled together. Therefore, by default, it is not for nothing that the localization of assembly means the place where the car was assembled on the assembly line, because after this there is testing, inspection and the first launch.
In Russia the brand is loved and respected. The car is considered a prestigious and elegant vehicle, although its popularity is inferior to its competitors BMW and Mercedes. Cars for the Russian market come from different parts of the globe, since much depends on the model and modification.
Audi representatives have repeatedly stated that there is little point in looking for information about the geography of car assembly, since all components and final products go through the acceptance stage, where quality control is guaranteed. In other words, thanks to the developed standards, a car produced in China or Hungary will be no different from the same one assembled in Germany or Russia.
However, users have their own opinion: many are confident that the German assembly is better than the Russian one, and are even willing to overpay certain amounts for information on the barcodes of the constituent elements.
Audi branch locations
In the technical documentation for Audi cars, the country of manufacture is indicated as Germany, however, the manufacturer of the product does not always have a German location. The concern's branches are located on almost all continents, which allows it to actively supply products to all countries of the world, cope with the global scale of production work, while simultaneously developing new items, strengthening its position in the market. As for production, all significant components and assemblies that predetermine the appropriate functionality of the vehicle are manufactured primarily in German factories. Branches in most cases are engaged in assembly work, which minimizes the factor of the product’s inconsistency with the global brand. The location of the assembly plants of the Audi concern is predetermined by their following geography:
- Germany, as a country producing Audi, has more than two dozen enterprises producing vehicles, as well as centers dealing directly with design and engineering issues.
- The largest complex in terms of scale and production trends is located in the USA, where Audis of almost all modifications are assembled, providing 100% of the products to the North American regions.
- Production departments in Brazil - five branches engaged in large-scale assembly, as well as plants in Argentina and Mexico, where certain Audi models are assembled - supply Latin American automotive markets with products.
- Models for African countries are produced at a plant in South Africa.
- Asian consumers have the opportunity to purchase vehicles under the Audi brand in domestic automobile markets, equipped at factories in India and Malaysia, with large-scale parts produced in China.
- In European countries, in addition to cars with an absolute German pedigree, Audi models can be supplied, completed at factories in Slovakia and Belgium.
- The Russian plant in Kaluga is engaged in large-scale assembly of some models of machines supplied to domestic markets.
Let's try to answer the current questions of domestic consumers, which Audi models are assembled in Russia, who produces cars for the Russian market that are not manufactured in Kaluga, and we will analyze how the fact of domestic intervention in the configuration of cars is reflected in the quality and operational features of the products.
Mobile Museum – history and development
The impressive history of the Audi brand, together with the history of human mobility as a whole, is presented with true realism - both informative and entertaining. Presentations using images, reconstructed scenes, and multimedia elements are arranged in numerous exhibits showcasing historical and contemporary contexts.
is open daily from 9.00 to 18.00.
You can book a tour by phone: +49 841 89-37575
opening hours :
- from Monday to Friday: from 8.00 to 20.00;
- on Saturday: from 8.00 to 16.00.
THE MUSEUM PRESENTS THE FOLLOWING TOURS:
Sightseeing tour “Mobile Museum-Compact”
Individual visitors
Dates:
- from Monday to Saturday: from 9.00 to 17.00, every hour;
- on Sunday: at 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00.
Prices:
- adults: 4 euros;
- elderly people, students, schoolchildren: 2 euros;
- children under 6 years old (with adults): free.
Groups
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 1 hour.
Group size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 60 euros.
For the elderly, students and people with physical disabilities: 30 euros.
Mobile museum-intensive: “More than just car stories”
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 1.5 hours.
Group size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 120 euros (excluding bus ride).
Dates: on request.
Color Change: "Car Colors and Color History"
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 1.5 hours.
Group size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 120 euros.
Dates: on request.
Motorsport: “An incredible success story”
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 1.5 hours.
Group size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 120 euros.
Dates: on request.
This is interesting: Where is the body number on the VAZ 2110
New models - a chic development of technology from Audi
Today, not a single model stays on the corporation’s assembly line for more than five years. And five years can be quite a long time for such cars. Therefore, in most cases, the corporation offers updated styling of its cars before the old design becomes obsolete. Many potential buyers are surprised at the speed at which the design range of cars is updated, but the company’s picky management is not too concerned about this. In 2015, the corporation presented a fairly large number of new products and restylings, among which the following updates attracted the main attention:
- Audi RS4 Avant is a large station wagon with sporty characteristics and a futuristic design, stiff suspension and powerful engines, costs from 4,700,000 rubles;
- Audi RS5 Coupe is a luxurious sports car with incredible style and very advanced technology; the car can surprise with its sporty dynamics and a price of 4,800,000 rubles;
- Audi S6 Avant is a new model with sporty inclinations, low ground clearance and amazing dynamics, luxurious engines make the trip unforgettable, and the price is raised to 4,480,000 rubles;
- Audi Q3 and RS Q3 are amazing compact crossovers with a real zeal for the future, not only in design, but also in the technical part, the cars start at prices of 1,615,000 and 2,990,000 rubles, respectively;
- The Audi Q7, a generation-changing large crossover, has become the center of attention of the company’s model range; its optimal appearance and advanced technology begin to cost from 3,630,000 rubles.
Don't forget about such designer models as the Audi TTS Coupe and Audi R8 Coupe. These are the most expensive and unique representatives of passenger cars from the German concern, which have proven their right to exist with unexpectedly high sales all over the world. New design developments of the automobile concern are becoming even more aggressive, the company is offering more and more interesting features and presenting unforgettable features of the technical part of its cars. Development does not stop for a second, so next year we will look at the Audi lineup with completely different eyes. We invite you to be surprised by new Audi technologies while watching a test drive of the 2015 Q7 model year:
Warranties from the manufacturer or dependence of reliability on the location of the assembly branch
Over the many years of its existence on the market, the German manufacturer has been characterized as a responsible and reliable supplier of cars. Despite the fact that branches of the Audi plant are scattered all over the world, the Germans are meticulous about the manufacture of products at absolutely all factories; the human factor influencing the quality of products is minimized. At each enterprise of the concern, regardless of what country it is, modern, modernized equipment is installed for the production of products that meet international standards, and each car supplied for sale undergoes the strictest technological control. Even at branches in African and some Asian countries, where it would be much cheaper to use human labor, the German manufacturer refuses this option to solve the problem, preferring, despite the significant financial costs, to produce suitable, reliable and technologically advanced products.
There were precedents when a concern, in favor of supplying quality goods, refused to manufacture certain models if there were complaints from technologists about the quality of the machines produced. For example, in Russia, the Audi Q5 and Q7 models were withdrawn from production due to a decrease in demand for them due to inconsistencies in the quality of assembled cars. Statistical data and user reviews indicate that product quality does not suffer depending on which branch directly produced the Audi car, where the car was assembled, however, exceptions to the rules were still registered. This fact forces potential buyers, when selecting a vehicle, especially a premium category from the Audi concern, to figure out where this or that model is assembled.
Pedigree of Audi cars for the domestic market
Some time ago, at the opening of the plant in Kaluga and the start of its operation, the management of the concern planned mass production of Audi products in Russia, making it possible to almost completely meet the needs of domestic buyers, and not only. However, the plans were changed due to the low-quality execution of some of the machines: popular models from the “ku” line, versions 5 and 7, did not meet consumer expectations, so their production in Russia was discontinued. At the present time, the Audi Q5 model for Russia is supplied directly from Germany, and only the plant in Slovakia is engaged in the production of Q7 crossovers. As for the compact, popular Q3 model, consumers have no complaints about the quality of its production; they are assembled exclusively in Spain, where production has been established since 2011, workshops are equipped and the manufacturing process is organized at the highest level in accordance with modern technological requirements.
The plant in Russia currently assembles the sixth and eighth versions of the A-line sedans, popular among domestic consumers. There are not very pleasant rumors about the quality of Audi A6 cars assembled at the Kaluga plant, however, potential buyers should not immediately refuse to purchase this model. At the same time, copies of these versions of cars from Europe are supplied to the domestic market, which allows you to make a purchase “without risk”, however, the cost of imported cars will be significantly higher. Manufacturers explain this discrepancy in prices not by the quality indicators of the products, but by the increased costs of transporting machines.
A lot of discussions are taking place in Russia among consumers on the topic of where the Audi A4 is assembled, which is an interesting purchase for both “ordinary” people with the means and for premium category buyers. The fact is that back in 2013 it was planned to start large-scale assembly of these models at the Kaluga plant. These plans never became a reality, although initially German manufacturers gave the official go-ahead for the production of the A4 in Russia. This model is supplied to the domestic market directly from Germany, despite the fact that its assembly is also carried out in other branches scattered across continents. The answer to the question of where the Audi A3 is assembled for Russia is not so clear: cars of this version are produced both in Germany and Belgium, and in China, which requires checking the pedigree of the model before purchasing.
The main assembly features of the Audi concern
The company manages to monitor all its divisions. The concern carries out strict control over assembly quality, which is what caused the withdrawal of some Audi models from Russian production, in particular the Q5 and Q7 crossovers. Buyers expect more than just decent quality from a company. In Europe, Audi assembly is carried out in full; every detail of the future vehicle is subject to strict certification. It is worth noting that the corporation is actively developing technologies that will later be successfully inherited by other brands of the concern. Today, the main tasks and operating principles of the company are as follows:
- the highest quality of cars, the absence of any childhood diseases in new developments;
- extensive testing of each technology that is introduced into the technical or functional part of the machines;
- certification of each individual piece of equipment, testing and grinding of parts at the factory;
- maximum automation of production even in those countries where it is more profitable to use manual labor;
- assembly control, which is carried out by German experts at each plant where Audi is assembled;
- multi-stage system for selecting materials for the interior, high-quality plastic and excellent layout;
- the most modern design features, constant competition among the best designers of the company.
Audi is one of the few brands that does not have one permanent design bureau. The corporation collects competitive submissions from various divisions of its designers, and then selects the best designs. However, other projects do not remain idle, because the company has brands such as Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat, which are less picky about the appearance of their equipment. That is why Audi always has the best design features among those presented to the management to choose from. However, this is a rather subjective area of activity, because some people like the Spanish Seat much more than the classic stylish image of Audi.
Story
was born in 1909, ahead of its main competitors. The headquarters of the concern is located in Ingolstadt.
Cars currently in production were originally produced under the Auto Union brand. The company took off after World War II thanks to the purchase of all shares. In 1964, Auto Union became a subsidiary. Thanks to their joint activities, the concern produced many iconic cars, such as the Audi 100 (popularly nicknamed the cigarette), Audi 80, Audi Q7 and many others.
The company is still not losing ground in the automotive market, producing more and more premium cars, an example of which is the new Audi A8.
