28.06.2001 – 10:20

Audi AG

112th Annual General Meeting of AUDI AG
Audi defies downward trend / First half year at record level

Ingolstadt (ots)

- Cross-reference: photos were sent via satellite and are
     available at: http://www.presseportal.de/galerie.htx?type=obs

Despite predominantly declining markets, Audi
has been able to increase its sales in the first six months of 2001
by more than six percent. "We have managed to further increase our
share of all markets that are important for us. This first half year
is consequently the most successful in company history." This
announcement was made by the Chairman of the Board of Management of
AUDI AG, Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, at today's 112th Annual General
Meeting in Ingolstadt.

"The business success that we attain even against a background of
stagnating or recessive markets is not only attributable to our
attractive products. It also shows that our customers hold the Audi
brand in even higher regard than before", explained Paefgen to the
shareholders. Thanks to its foresighted model and brand policy, Audi
has achieved further growth in defiance of the general market trend.

Results from ordinary business activities (before taxes) in 2000
amounted to DM 1.856 billion (previous year's figure: DM 1.640
billion), but were diminished by DM 251 million in extraordinary
expenses to cover provisions for the disposal of end-of-life
vehicles. The Audi Group's earnings before taxes consequently
totalled DM 1.605 billion. Net earnings improved by 35.5 percent to
DM 859 million.

The DVFA result per share, adjusted to take account of
extraordinary effects, amounted to DM 20.16 (DM 21.89). AUDI AG
shareholders received a compensatory payment equivalent to the
dividend for one ordinary Volkswagen share of DM 2.35 per individual
share certificate. The Group's sales revenues last year totalled DM
39.024 billion (DM 29.624 billion). Worldwide vehicle sales were
increased to 919,621 units (including Autogerma). The Audi brand sold
653,404 vehicles (up 2.9 percent), Lamborghini 296 (up 11.7 percent).
Capital investments of DM 3.965 billion were up 33.7 percent on the
previous year owing to the acquisition of Autogerma.

Based on an estimate for the first half of 2001, earnings before
taxes will, according to the Board Member for Finance Peter Abele, be
"significantly up on the previous year" (1st half of 2000: DM 760
million). It is estimated that sales revenues will increase by more
than 13 percent to around DM 22 billion. Capital investments will be
down 4.1 percent to approximately DM 1.3 billion.

Vehicle sales (including Autogerma and Lamborghini) are expected
to increase worldwide by 6.6 percent to around 521,400 units. Sales
of the Audi brand alone will be up 6.2 percent to 366,400 vehicles.

Sales of the Audi brand are divided between the following major
markets: around 129,000 vehicles will have been sold in Germany by
the end of June, 3.1 percent more than one year ago. Audi's market
share is expected to increase further to 7.3 percent (1st half of
2000: 6.8 percent).

A total of around 156,100 Audi vehicles will have been sold in
Europe (excluding Germany) by 30 June (up 5.2 percent), 41,800 in the
USA (up 3.5 percent). Of the markets in the rest of the world, China
is particularly successful with 15,400 vehicles (up 84.0 percent).

Lamborghini will increase its sales by around 18 percent to 162
vehicles while Autogerma will sell around 7.6 percent more vehicles
of other VW Group brands in Italy, around 154,900 in total.

Car production (including Lamborghini) will be up by about 13.5
percent in the first half of the year to around 371,600 units.
Approximately 618,700 engines will have been produced by 30 June, 2.0
percent fewer than one year ago.

The number of employees in the Audi Group is expected to be up on
the first half of 2000 by 4.4 percent to 51,200 as at 30 June 2001.
30,470 of this total are employed in Ingolstadt (up 3.6 percent),
13,880 in Neckarsulm (up 3.0 percent), 4,930 in Györ at AUDI HUNGARIA
MOTOR Kft. (up 13.8 percent) and a total of around 1,900 at Cosworth
Technology and Lamborghini Holding (up 6.1 percent).

Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen appeared confident about the remainder of
the year: "By the end of the year 2001 we expect all key figures of
the Audi Group to be above those of 2000, which was already a very
good year in itself."

Note to editorial staff: Production photos are available through
dpa (obs). The detailed Interim Report will be published on 9 August.

Communication: Corporate and Finance
Joachim Cordshagen, 
Tel: +49 (0)841 89-36340, 
Mobile: +49 (0)172 9104468
e-mail:  joachim.cordshagen@audi.de

Jürgen De Graeve, 
Tel: +49 (0)841 89-34084, 
Mobile: +49 (0)172 9142908
e-mail:  juergen.degraeve@audi.de

Original-Content von: Audi AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell