Audi – the German luxury car manufacturer, is enjoying considerable success in India: By establishing its own sales company for India, Audi is making a clear statement in the country. Audi India has commenced its business activities as a Division of Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. and is based in Mumbai.

The managing board of Audi AG has appointed Benoit Tiers as Managing Director of Audi India. “We have ambitious growths plans for India and we plan to sell around 3,000 vehicles by 2010. Our goal is to become the leading automobile luxury brand in the Indian market”, commented Benoit Tiers.

Benoit Tiers, 37, started his Audi career eight years ago in leading functions in the sales department of Audi France, the last three years as Vice President Sales. During his management Audi reached record sales numbers in France. Prior to joining Audi the graduated business economist Benoit Tiers worked for Saab

and Honda in product management and dealer development.

Audi India National is structured in three main departments: Marketing (Vice President Martin Birkner), Sales (N.N.) and After Sales (Vice President Martin Freudenhagen), directly reporting to the Managing Director Benoit Tiers.The whole organisation will expand to around 40 mainly Indian professionals until 2010.

“With these measures we are signalling to our customers and our dealers our long-term and direct commitment to India. Audi’s sales strategy for India encompasses significant investments in branding, marketing and after sales service for the next upcoming years,” explained Benoit Tiers. This includes for example the setting up of a service training centre in order to guarantee top quality in the area of after sales.

The Audi India strategy also includes an efficient expansion of the dealer network to provide at least nine exclusive Audi dealers in central locations around the country before the end of 2007. At present, three dealers in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi are selling Audi A4, Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi Q7 and the recently launched Audi TT.

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