Progressive priorities: D(r)ive in with us

With Geoffrey Bouquot joining us as the Member of the Board of Management for Innovation and Software-Defined Vehicle, June has been a key month in which we have been putting ourselves on a firm footing for the future. We are also making our supply chain more sustainable – and in this newsletter Chief Procurement Officer Renate Vachenauer tells you how we are doing it. Also included: a look at our activities in art and culture as well as a primer on ChatGPT coming to our vehicles.

Ensuring sustainability and human rights in our supply chain

1. Renate Vachenauer, what is the current status of the supply chain for Audi?

We see our measures taken during the Covid years are working and that supply to our production sites is stable. As we work with around 14,000 suppliers from over 60 countries, we require intelligent supply chain and risk management. Stable partnerships are key to that. At the same time, we and our suppliers cooperate to bring innovations to the road for our customers.

2. How do you ensure sustainability and the observance of human rights in the worldwide supply chain?

We see our extensive supply chain as giving us great responsibility and opportunity to generate positive change for people and the environment.

One important strategic field is establishing a circular economy and thus conserving resources. We want to use more recycled materials from post-consumer sources in our vehicles and are already doing this with our all-electric Audi Q6 e-tron model series.

We also recognize our responsibility around human rights. Every company wanting to work with Audi must adhere to the guiding principles of our Code of Conduct for Business Partners. It outlines our strict requirements concerning compliance and environmental and social issues, adherence to which is monitored.

3. What are you doing to promote decarbonization along the supply chain?

We have established a decarbonization program for procurement and continuously examine our supply chain. In 2023, we saved more than 450,000 tons of net CO? emissions by using CO?-reduced aluminum and renewable energy in battery cell production, recycling, and the circular economy, among other things.

Our Aluminum Closed Loop is another significant example. Press shop offcuts are returned to our suppliers and used to produce new aluminum coils. Since its introduction at our Audi plants in 2017, this measure has avoided more than 780,000 tons of CO? emissions.

Prioritizing innovation and software

We recently welcomed a new member to our Board of Management: Geoffrey Bouquot will focus on software-defined vehicles and innovation.

With the decision to create the new position at board level, our management is strengthening the long-term technology and innovation strategy as well as the development of software-defined vehicles.

On his appointment, Geoffrey Bouquot commented: “Audi for me represents precision and the future – engineering and digitalization. I am looking forward to my new role. I would like to do my part in initiating a positive upward trend together with the team at Audi and its ecosystem. Greater efficiency and the further development of digitalization are the paths that lead to this goal.”

Click here to read more about Geoffrey's professional background:

A special place for culture: the Audi Summer Concerts 2024

Audi has been committed to culture for more than 60 years. Under the joint umbrella of the Audi ArtExperience, the company’s orchestras and sponsorships for visual arts, theater, and film, as well as its major events, concerts and festivals prove that culture is experienced at Audi at an internationally recognized level. The Audi Young Persons‘ Choral Academy, founded by Audi in 2007, for example, played an inspiring concert at the Carnegie Hall in New York last year.

Our mission to promote culture is also demonstrated at the annual Audi Summer Concerts, with their top-quality performances of classical music and experimental formats. This year, the festival is taking place until July 21, with a program that will again feature symphony concerts, chamber music, and excursions into jazz, as well as musical experiences for young people and children and two open-air concerts on June 28 and 30. These open-air events are our way of bringing classical music to a wide range of people.

Interested in being among the first to know about our upcoming events? Sign up to the newsletter (in German) here: https://www.audi.de/de/brand/de/audi-artexperience.html

ChatGPT is coming to your Audi

Exciting news for all fans of Audi, AI, and on-the-go trivia: many Audi models can now chit-chat and answer questions thanks to ChatGPT!

Whenever you are in your car, just say “Hey Audi” or press the push-to-talk button on the steering wheel and ask your question. The Audi assistant understands if your request is directed at a comfort or infotainment function – or is about general knowledge. In the latter case it seamlessly forwards the request to ChatGPT and gives the answer in natural language.

The new function will become available soon, e.g. in the Audi Q6 e-tron model series based on our new E3 electronic architecture.

Sustainable parts for your car

Cars are on the road for many years. Sooner or later this means repairs will be necessary – be it replacing wear items or sorting out defects. For these purposes, Audi not only offers new, but also high-quality Audi Genuine Used Parts. For years, customers have had the option to choose between new components or take advantage of a factory repair and refurbishing program. In the future, we will also make genuine used parts available to our customers.

They are sourced from used vehicles dismantled in Ingolstadt, Germany, specifically for this purpose. The high-quality used parts are a cost-effective and low-CO? alternative to new parts intended for vehicles aged five years or older. The portfolio includes body panels such as hoods, fenders, and doors but also complete engines and transmissions. All of them come with a two-year warranty. Audi Genuine Used Parts will be made available in EU markets from late 2025.

What’s next?

Goodwood Festival of Speed is a one-of-a-kind event marked on all car fans’ calendar in July – and on ours too.

This year, Audi is not only bringing along a selection of legendary race cars to Goodwood: the new Audi RS e-tron GT performance** is also set to make its live debut during the automotive extravaganza in West Sussex, England.

And, of course, you can expect some impressions from Goodwood right here on LinkedIn!

* Audi RS 3 product upgrade (model year 2025): Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km (provisional): 9.6-8.9; CO? emissions combined in g/km (provisional): 218-201; CO? class: G (provisional).

** Audi RS e-tron GT performance: Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km: 20.8-18.7 (WLTP); combined CO? emissions in g/km:?0; CO? class: A.