- Audi executives say the decision to build a North American plant is not "a matter of if . . . but when."
- Audi remains focused on Mexico as the most likely location for its first-ever North American production facility.
- Audi won't likely share space at parent VW's Chattanooga plant.
DETROIT — Audi executives say the company — the rapidly growing premium subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group — has decided to proceed with plans to build a North American plant, but it won't likely share space at VW's Chattanooga facility.
Rather, Audi remains focused on Mexico as the most likely location for its first-ever North American production facility, according to WardsAuto.com.
"It's not a matter of if we will do a plant in North America, but when," Audi of American boss Johan de Nysschen told the industry Web site. "The decision to do a plant, technically we've reached that conclusion. It's a matter now of waiting to pull the trigger."
De Nysschen said one of the benefits of locating a plant in Mexico is its proximity to growing markets in Brazil and other South American countries.
The Audi executive told WardsAuto.com that "the Chattanooga (production) capacity will be required by the VW brand" and that "no final decision has been made" on Audi's plant location.
Inside Line says: Audi is still a long way from selling at least 100,000 units of a single model — the generally accepted minimum annual production before committing to invest in a new assembly plant.
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dmpete says:
06:52 AM, 01/19/2012
+100 for doss1.
rayzor says:
08:58 PM, 01/18/2012
My 2011 Toyota Tacoma is built in Mexico and it is choke full of defects in workmanship. Very poorly and hastily slapped together. Many of the trimmings are loose, the weather seals are loose, the sun visors are flopping down, the body panels are loose. I compared it to my friend's 2010 Tacoma that was built in California and I can see striking difference in built quality. If I had known that it was built in Mexico, I would not have purchased it. Buyers beware!!
govmotorgm2008 says:
08:57 PM, 01/18/2012
I wouldn't buy anthing made in the USA.
Its going to have UAW workers that will be on drugs and drunk all the time building a already crappy german engineered vehicle.
Next thing you know...there be some UAW DNA white stain on the backseat of your brand new AUDI.
roger03 says:
07:42 PM, 01/18/2012
Premium brand and built in Mexico in the same sentence doesn't make any sense. I wouldn't buy any of them anyway, I would be too scared of their reliability. If your main market is the US you built in the US, if your main market is China, you built in China, period, is that simple enough! Respect your consumers, period, is that simple enough!
smallfield says:
06:19 PM, 01/18/2012
I'm more upset that they probably intent these cars to be sold here and don't make them here. I can't imagine Mexico is a big Audi market, but I could be wrong.
At least other true US premium brands manufacture their cars here or their home country. I won't buy a Mexican Audi on principle. Well maybe if they can price a A6 3.0T like a Ford Fusion with that dramatic wage decrease, but I doubt that it makes that much difference.
kshankar says:
01:48 PM, 01/18/2012
So which cars/engines are built in Mexico. I can think of the following
Ford Fusion, Ford Fiesta, Cadillac SRX, Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chrysler Hemi Engines, VW Jetta, VW Beetle. I know there are more but these came to mind
audirs4 says:
01:01 PM, 01/18/2012
Please no, Audi
You spent all this time building the name back up.
To make Audi's in Mexico - not good!
flwind says:
11:41 AM, 01/18/2012
As much as I like Audis, I would not buy one "Hecho en Mexico".
doss1 says:
10:17 AM, 01/18/2012
Well if they have more jobs down there there will be no need for them to migrate here for work.
rctennis3811 says:
10:02 AM, 01/18/2012
No matter how well cars can be built in Mexico, the fact remains that there will still be a negative stigma attached for some time, especially with a luxury brand such as Audi.
Then again, I'm biased...if BMW and Mercedes-Benz can build models in the U.S., why can't Audi do the same?