Audi looks to drive ahead in challenging Chinese market
By Gong Zhengzheng (China Daily) Updated: 2015-02-02 15:18He predicted that the premium car market in China would grow by 14 percent this year, down from 20 percent in 2014.
Ge said Audi plans to launch 19 new products in China this year, including all-new, modified and yearly upgraded models.
Last week, an imported all-new A3 Cabriolet and two locally made A3 cars hit the market.
An imported all-new Audi TT and Q7 SUV will also be introduced later this year.
One of the top priorities of the brand this year is to explore the small-sized car segment for young buyers, which will be in the fast lane, Ge said.
"We underestimated the potential of the segment before," he admitted.
Ge said Audi would provide more support to dealerships to improve their profit-making capabilities and boost sales.
"Dealerships are our four limbs, and you can image what you can do without the four limbs," he stressed.
He said the company would raise sales rebates for dealerships by 0.5 percent "unconditionally" and will simplify the existing redundant assessment items for them.
Ge said 70 percent of Audi's dealerships in China are in the black. By the end of last year, the brand had 409 dealerships in 178 Chinese cities.
The company revealed last year that the number of its dealerships would grow to 500 by 2017.
Ge said Audi, together with dealerships, would further improve sales and after-sales services to "delight" customers.
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