Audi confident of retaining lead in 2016

Driving forward

Audi is developing in key areas of electrification and digitization, and is making automobiles digital.

Stadler said, "We will invest, in 2016 alone, more than 3 billion euros for the mobility of tomorrow, and we will push forward with the electrification and digitization of our products."

The first locally manufactured new-energy model, the Audi A6 L Plug-in Hybrid, is set to launch in the fourth quarter, expecting to leverage policies that make owners eligible for free license plates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and government subsidies in 88 cities.

FAW-Volkswagen plans to conduct research and development on traction batteries to power its automobiles.

Stefan Knirsch, member of the board of management responsible for technical development, said, "We will meet all the government requirements" regarding battery technologies.

He said Audi's user experience research and technology development are going to be carried out in the planned Volkswagen Future Center.

Volkswagen AG announced three new "Volkswagen Group Future Centers" in Potsdam, Germany; California, the United States; and China, on March 1 in Geneva at the Volkswagen Group Night event. Designers and digitalization experts will work together on the "car of the future" at these centers.

Dietmar Voggenreiter, member of the board of management responsible for sales and marketing, gave the infotainment system in the Q7 as an example of localized digitalization.

"The R&D team in Beijing with more than 400 staff members decided to use larger touch pads for the Chinese market, after they surveyed more than 200 Chinese customers for their feedback."

Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini SpA, said: "Greater China is Lamborghini's second-largest market, after North America. We are adapting locally as much as we can for the Chinese consumer."

The Italian sports car manufacturer is a subsidiary company of Audi AG, and achieved a record sales volume of 3,245 units worldwide, a surge of 28 percent year-on-year.