When Audi AG’s board member for marketing and sales Peter Schwarzenbauer sat down recently in Mallorca with American journalists at the launch of the new S4, the executive took on a decidedly Warren Buffett-like tone. Buffett, a master investor and subsequent billionaire has a saying - “When people panic, buy. When people buy, panic.” In other words, big gains can and will be made by going strong and head long into a downturn like the one the world economy is dealing with today.
Now apply that to Audi - a brand that aggressively wants to grow its business. This was what the charismatic former Porsche executive emphasized over a bottle of Spanish wine with his American guests. To make his point clearer, Schwarzenbauer mentioned Audi of America’s sales goals. Before the downturn, Audi planned to sell 200,000 cars in the USA within five to eight years. However, with the stock market and housing values falling and unemployment on the rise, he thinks this growth can now be attained in three to four years.
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