Making progress together: D(r)ive in with us

From the apprentices who inspired the Audi RS 6 Avant GT* to making electric mobility more accessible and racing more sustainable: This brand-new issue of our newsletter covers a breadth of topics from the Audi world. So let’s get off to a flying start – just like one of our performance wagons!

Timo Engler, Head of Training for Vehicle Technology and Logistics at Audi Neckarsulm, Germany, on the apprentice project that spawned the Audi RS 6 Avant GT.

1. Timo, what is an apprentice project at Audi?

Every year, a few of the top technical apprentices at Audi get to design and build their dream car full-time for six months. This project alternates between Audi’s two main sites in Germany: the headquarters in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, where we created the Audi RS 6 GTO concept** in 2020.

2. How did this project inspire the Audi RS 6 Avant GT?

In the case of the apprentices’ project car from 2020, both Audi fans around the world and the designers at Audi were absolutely taken with the result. That is why Audi decided to make it a real product – the Audi RS 6 Avant GT.

3. From your perspective, what makes apprentice projects at Audi so special?

The key to our apprentice projects is the fact that the apprentices really have the freedom to express themselves. At the same time, they are also fully supported by various departments at Audi to make their vision a reality.

We are always looking for talented and creative people who want to start their careers at Audi. The fact that some of them get to participate in exciting projects like this is a real bonus!

Breaking down barriers and enabling inclusive mobility for all

To many, using a car to get around is an important aspect of personal freedom. To ensure that people with disabilities can also enjoy this freedom, we are working to make electric mobility more accessible.

That is why we designed all our Audi charging hubs to be barrier-free. We made sure there was enough space for wheelchair users to open the doors and move around the vehicle. Users can lower the payment terminals to a height that fits their individual needs at the touch of a button. And thanks to an innovative swivel arm, they can easily move the charging cables to any position on the vehicle. Our next Audi charging hub, opening in Frankfurt shortly, will offer all these features for a simplified charging process as well.

Finishing first sustainably

With a first Dakar victory for Audi, Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz made global headlines earlier this year. Thanks to cutting-edge technology, they also achieved their win sustainably – making Audi the first manufacturer to win the tough desert race with an alternative propulsion system.

The Audi RS Q e-tron***, our Dakar race vehicle, is powered by a combination of electric motors and high-voltage batteries with a highly efficient combustion-powered energy converter. The latter runs on reFuel, a sustainable alternative that meets the same quality requirements as conventional gasoline.

Our winning vehicle also recovered a considerable proportion of the energy required to go the distance in Saudi Arabia in an intelligent way: During braking, the motor-generator units (MGU) convert kinetic energy into electricity which is then fed back into the battery. On average, this covered about 14 percent of the daily energy requirement during the rally.

Ensuring everybody feels safe and comfortable at work

Antonia Wadé is Audi’s anti-discrimination officer. Her job is to be a point of contact for Audi employees who either feel or witness discrimination or want advice on the topic. “The important thing is that we want to raise awareness of the issue,” explains Antonia. “We want to encourage people to really address discrimination and perhaps also support others who don't dare to do so themselves.”

To make sure discrimination has no place at Audi, we have established a Code of Conduct and corresponding mandatory web-based training. Antonia also sees making these guidelines applicable to everyday work situations as vital to her role: “Which behaviors are discrimination? What can we do, and what should we not do? We aim to break this down for people in a very concrete way for their specific situation. In the end, everybody needs to get involved to ensure there is no place for discrimination at work.”

Audi celebrates 30 years in Brazil – a brief history

Audi has had a global production network for a long time, and the brand arrived in South America’s largest country in 1994. Vehicles wearing the four rings first came to Brazil through a partnership between Audi and Senna Import, a company owned by three-time Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna. Sadly, Senna never got to see the first Audi leave a Brazilian dealership, as sales commenced shortly after the motorsport legend’s fatal accident at the Imola circuit in Italy the same year.

Five years later, Audi do Brasil began local production of the Audi A3 at the S?o José dos Pinhais plant in the south of Brazil. The plant currently produces the Audi Q3. This year, Audi is celebrating this anniversary with different events at the S?o José site and other locations, including racetracks.

What’s next: special edition newsletter on Audi’s financial performance

The next installment of our newsletter will be a special edition: On March 19, our Annual Media Conference takes place at our headquarter in Ingolstadt, Germany. Afterwards, you will be able to get a short summary of everything you need to know about our financial results for 2023, key insights on our performance and strategic outlook, as well as on the new fully electric Audi Q6 e-tron which is built in Germany.

* Audi RS 6 Avant GT: Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 12.7-12.2; combined CO? emissions in g/km: 289-277, CO? class: G.

** The Audi RS 6 GTO concept is a concept vehicle that is not available as a production model.?

*** Audi RS Q e-tron: This vehicle shown here is the Rally Dakar vehicle that is not available as a production model. Closed course, professional driver. Do not attempt. The Audi RS Q e-tron combines an electric drivetrain with an energyconverter system comprising a TFSI engine and generator.