Another interesting interview with Audi Chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn
01-02-2003, 08:44 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 720
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another interesting interview with Audi Chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn
<center><img src="http://www.autozeitung.de/news/bilder/big/104.jpg"></center><p>
Marty seems to have come out of the closet, and has begun publicizing the future strategies and directions of the Audi group. Here's a translated interview with AutoZeitung (Auto Newspaper).
AUTO NEWSPAPER posed five questions to Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the board of AUDI AG:
""AUTO NEWSPAPER: What are the goals of AUDI brand group?
DR. WINTERKORN: Increase quality and reliability, more flexibility, improvement of customer orientation, and increased returns. With Seat, Lamborghini and AUDI we want to address sporty drivers in all segments. We will offer in the future cars priced from 15000 to 240000 euro.
AUTO NEWSPAPER: Which role will be played by AUDI?
DR. WINTERKORN: AUDI stands for sporty, progressive and high-quality. Summarized: for Vorsprung durch Technik (Lead by Technology). Accordingly AUDI is also the guidance roller on technical development of the group.
AUTO NEWSPAPER: How would you characterize Seat and Lamborghini?
DR. WINTERKORN: Seat will present in the future extroverted sportyness. It will have unorthodox designs and stand for an athletic model appearance. Lamborghini embodies automobiles of extremes and no compromises with Italian flair, however done with quality and efficiency.
AUTO NEWSPAPER: What is the potential and advantages of having a group of brands?
DR. WINTERKORN: We want to use synergies, bundle authority and to use components, where they always fit, for several different models. Thus we can reduce costs.
AUTO NEWSPAPER: Will the three brands give a common brand appearance?
DR. WINTERKORN: No, outwardly the three brands will remain separate. We do not want to to create a common dealer network.""<ul><li><a href="http://www.autozeitung.de/index_news.php?site=news/show.php?id=70">http://www.autozeitung.de/index_news.php?site=news/show.php?id=70</a</li></ul>
Marty seems to have come out of the closet, and has begun publicizing the future strategies and directions of the Audi group. Here's a translated interview with AutoZeitung (Auto Newspaper).
AUTO NEWSPAPER posed five questions to Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the board of AUDI AG:
""AUTO NEWSPAPER: What are the goals of AUDI brand group?
DR. WINTERKORN: Increase quality and reliability, more flexibility, improvement of customer orientation, and increased returns. With Seat, Lamborghini and AUDI we want to address sporty drivers in all segments. We will offer in the future cars priced from 15000 to 240000 euro.
AUTO NEWSPAPER: Which role will be played by AUDI?
DR. WINTERKORN: AUDI stands for sporty, progressive and high-quality. Summarized: for Vorsprung durch Technik (Lead by Technology). Accordingly AUDI is also the guidance roller on technical development of the group.
AUTO NEWSPAPER: How would you characterize Seat and Lamborghini?
DR. WINTERKORN: Seat will present in the future extroverted sportyness. It will have unorthodox designs and stand for an athletic model appearance. Lamborghini embodies automobiles of extremes and no compromises with Italian flair, however done with quality and efficiency.
AUTO NEWSPAPER: What is the potential and advantages of having a group of brands?
DR. WINTERKORN: We want to use synergies, bundle authority and to use components, where they always fit, for several different models. Thus we can reduce costs.
AUTO NEWSPAPER: Will the three brands give a common brand appearance?
DR. WINTERKORN: No, outwardly the three brands will remain separate. We do not want to to create a common dealer network.""<ul><li><a href="http://www.autozeitung.de/index_news.php?site=news/show.php?id=70">http://www.autozeitung.de/index_news.php?site=news/show.php?id=70</a</li></ul>
01-02-2003, 09:28 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 7,469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't put your money on this guy
Burnt Fishtrousers was quoted in one of the Brit mags as making a sideways comment about this guy, something to the effect that he's amazed/impressed at how loyal this guy is/was to Piech.
Not a great way to "impress" your new boss.
Not a great way to "impress" your new boss.
01-02-2003, 09:30 AM
#4
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 12,697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sounds like he said a whole lotta nothing...
<i>We want to use synergies, bundle authority and to use components, where they always fit, for several different models. </i>
or, in short, parts sharing...
<i>AUDI is also the guidance roller on technical development</i>
or, in short, guinea pig...
<i>Increase quality and reliability, more flexibility, improvement of customer orientation, and increased returns</i>
or, in short, we wanna do what everyone wants to do...
<i>No, outwardly the three brands will remain separate</i>
or, in short, the three brands will remain separate
He kinda sounds like a politician...I'm speaking but not much substance is coming out...
or, in short, parts sharing...
<i>AUDI is also the guidance roller on technical development</i>
or, in short, guinea pig...
<i>Increase quality and reliability, more flexibility, improvement of customer orientation, and increased returns</i>
or, in short, we wanna do what everyone wants to do...
<i>No, outwardly the three brands will remain separate</i>
or, in short, the three brands will remain separate
He kinda sounds like a politician...I'm speaking but not much substance is coming out...
01-02-2003, 09:33 AM
#5
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Love the translation....
"Accordingly AUDI is also the guidance roller on technical development of the group"
should be:
"Accordingly, Audi will take the leading role on technical development within the group".....
should be:
"Accordingly, Audi will take the leading role on technical development within the group".....
01-02-2003, 09:38 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 7,469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If I ever met this guy, I would write two letters on a piece of paper
and hand it to him.
GM.
Their idea of taking one car and rebadging it three or four times might have worked once, but it sure don't work anymore. And what's the point, why not just make the one good car and make money off it? Sheesh.
GM.
Their idea of taking one car and rebadging it three or four times might have worked once, but it sure don't work anymore. And what's the point, why not just make the one good car and make money off it? Sheesh.
01-02-2003, 09:50 AM
#7
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 12,697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm not worried about sharing with SEAT or Lambo...
but I am glad they are separating Audi and VW more and more. Engine sharing and such with Lambo just brings Lambo down but doesn't hurt Audi, perhaps it even helps Audi's rep. I will never buy a Lambo, so this does not concern me.
GM still has a lot to figure out...I think they should keep:
Chevy (bread and butter)
Buick (near luxury)
Cadillac (luxury and high-end sport)
Saturn (young person, sporty)
Hummer
Sell Saab to someone who won't GM-ize it...
Make GMC only for real trucks, not passenger trucks like the Suburban, etc...make those all Chevy's.
Kill Pontiac in addition to Oldsmobile.
GM still has a lot to figure out...I think they should keep:
Chevy (bread and butter)
Buick (near luxury)
Cadillac (luxury and high-end sport)
Saturn (young person, sporty)
Hummer
Sell Saab to someone who won't GM-ize it...
Make GMC only for real trucks, not passenger trucks like the Suburban, etc...make those all Chevy's.
Kill Pontiac in addition to Oldsmobile.
Trending Topics
01-02-2003, 10:04 AM
#8
In the US, Audi's problems have nothing to do with the product.
They can just keep making what they're making. Just market, sell and support it better!
Then again, I kind of miss the exclusivity of owning an Audi. Maybe I'll buy a SEAT.
Then again, I kind of miss the exclusivity of owning an Audi. Maybe I'll buy a SEAT.
01-02-2003, 10:07 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 7,469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lambo no
not an issue, nor Bentley.
But VW, Audi, Seat is getting muddled in Europa and over here too to an extent. The Phaeton is a bizarre exercise that hopscotches over the unicorn of Audi, so is the W8 Passat.
Oh and BTW, here's a discussion from vwvortex about self-exploding airbags that hints at a possible recall<ul><li><a href="http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=643853">VDub</a></li></ul>
But VW, Audi, Seat is getting muddled in Europa and over here too to an extent. The Phaeton is a bizarre exercise that hopscotches over the unicorn of Audi, so is the W8 Passat.
Oh and BTW, here's a discussion from vwvortex about self-exploding airbags that hints at a possible recall<ul><li><a href="http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=643853">VDub</a></li></ul>