Aug 2, 2013
Audi Group achieves operating return on sales of 10.5 percent in the first half of the year
Audi continues to pursue its strategy of consistent growth. Between January and June, the carmaker delivered around 780,500 cars bearing the four-ring emblem – 6.4 percent more than in the first six months of the previous year. At €25.2 billion, the Audi Group’s revenue in the first half of 2013 has attained the high level of the previous year. The operating profit during the same period, at €2.6 billion, was slightly below the previous year’s figure of €2.9 billion. With an operating return on sales of 10.5 percent, the Ingolstadt-based company is again working at a highly profitable level within the competitive environment.
“Despite challenging economic conditions, we are keeping to our forecast for the year as a whole. We are also investing heavily in new products, developing innovative and revolutionary new technologies and expanding our worldwide production capacities,” emphasizes Axel Strotbek, Board Member for Finance.
Board Member for Sales Luca de Meo has announced that Audi expects to achieve the sales target originally set for 2015 already this year. “We will continue to grow this year despite what are sometimes difficult market conditions. In 2013, we want to deliver more than 1.5 million Audi brand cars to our customers.” The new Audi A3 family and the Q3 and Q5 SUVs are expected to contribute significantly to that effort.
In the first half of 2013, Audi delivered 780,467 Audi brand cars (2012: 733,216) – an increase of 6.4 percent and a new record-breaking figure as well. Nonetheless, the company has not been able to completely bypass the tough economic conditions. At €25,234 million (2012: €25,022), Audi Group revenue in the first half of 2013 was at the previous year’s level.
The cost of sales increased as a result of the growth in volume to €20,190 million (2012: €19,881) and distribution costs rose to €2,284 million (2012: €2,209). In all, the company generated an operating profit of €2,644 million (2012: €2,871) – a decline of 7.9 percent.
With an operating return on sales of 10.5 percent (2012: 11.5), the Audi Group once again exceeded its strategic target corridor of eight to ten percent in the first half of the year, making it one of the most profitable companies in the automotive industry. The company generated a profit before tax of €2,974 million (2012: €3,175). That corresponds to a return on sales of 11.8 percent (2012: 2.7).
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