'Worldwide, every third Audi will be an SUV by 2020'

Automotive News Europe reports the new Audi manufacturing facility in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico will increase the automaker's production capacity for the Q5 SUV by 150,000 units per year. While the plant will supply every market with the exception of China, most of the production is slated to head to the US.

While speaking with ANE, Audi CEO Rupert Stradler said, "Worldwide, every third Audi will be an SUV by 2020." So far this year, 40 percent of Audi vehicles sold in the US have been light trucks, with the company's sales in that segment jumping by 53 percent. By comparison, Audi passenger car sales have increased by just one percent.

The first Q5 vehicles from the San Hose Chiapa plant will show up on dealer lots in 2016. Audi of America recently received a larger 9,000-unit allocation of Q5 models after seeing sales increase 36 percent through April compared to the same period in 2012.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/w...n-suv-by-2020/

 

I need to get some sleep...I kept looking at the title and seeing Saudi instead of Audi.....and thinking to myself 'What the hell?'

Anyways, that vehicle pictured above looks more like a CUV than an SUV.

 

It's one of those implying terms. Not to many people say I need a tissue, they just say I need a Kleenex which is actually a brand like Puffs when they really mean tissue. Same thing with Copy, Xerox and Xerox copy lol

 

Sounds about right...everyone is doing it....people want SUVs...

 

when is the Q3 going to be available?

 

Wait what? Are they stopping Q5 production in Ingolstadt, Germany?

I hope not because imho I would rather buy a Q5 made in Ingolstadt, Germany over one made by Mexicans (no offense intended to the people of Mexico)

 

Correct. NA Q5's will come from Mexico. Quality etc. will be interesting. Hopefully VW/Audi have done their homework to assure it doesn't suffer with the move.

 

lol I missed the "every third" and read it as "Worldwide, every Audi will be an SUV by 2020".

 

I don't understand people's fascination with SUVs. Gas prices are rising and we drive alone the vast majority of the time, yet people want BIGGER cars instead of smaller?

 

Just because gas prices are rising doesn't mean the need for large cars because of growing families, towing, work etc.. is falling. There will always be demand for large vehicles

 

SUVs are perhaps the best "jack-of-all-trades" vehicles available today. They offer a practical body style, decent ground clearance, and available AWD for inclement weather. People want vehicles which work for them 100% of the time, not just 70% or 80% of the time.

 

You're right, you don't understand. SUVs are about a lot more than just being big. Higher seating / driving position. Easier to get into and out of, that appeals to many, including older buyers, taller buyers, and frankly, the uh, 'larger' part of the market which is growing (sic). And easier to load stuff into and out of. Once you've loaded a table or chairs into an SUV, the thought of trying to do it in a sedan is laughable.

Ah, the usual positive comments.

 

This. The Volkswagens made in the Mexican plant have a lot more problems than the ones made in Germany. My VW bud says he'd never buy a VW that was made in Mexico.

 

I totally support more SUV. That way when I go out with friends, we'll never have to take my small sedan

 

You don't get to take the moral high ground unless you yourself are in the most fuel efficient car that reasonably meets your needs.

A quick review of your post history indicates that you have an old SC430. It's not exactly a paragon of virtue in terms of mileage. It has the same or lower EPA rating than many SUVs. It also has mediocre CO2 and smog ratings, so its not exactly environmentally friendly either.

More than a little hypocritical, don't you think? You're doing nothing different than the SUV owners you seek to castigate.