2021 – a year of progress

In a few days’ time we enter a new year: 2022 is waiting for us! As we reflect on 2021, we can confidently say it has been quite the year. We have driven ahead at enormous speed – and when speed is involved, it’s important to look into the rear-view mirror and take time to reflect.

After all, there is no progress without reflection.

This year, the world was challenged – once again. I am sure, all of us have reached our limits at some point. However, we have never lost heart. The first six months were the best half year ever in  Audi’s history – with more than 980,000 cars delivered to our customers worldwide. We were able to take this strong performance into the third quarter and, with 14% more deliveries, we were significantly stronger than in the previous year.

It could have continued like that throughout the year. However, the global semiconductor crisis caught up with our industry and made us face new challenges. Among them, the  ongoing pandemic situation looks set to accompany us into next year, as the tense supply situation shows no sign of abatement.

But – as Aristotle said: We cannot change the wind, but we can recalibrate the sails.

That’s what we have done. We have worked on solutions without drifting away from our course.

For me, 2021 was a year of strong cohesion and strong performance. A year in which we all proved more than ever that even if we are physically distant from each other, we are still close together as one team. We can perform strongly, even in such challenging times. In the name of the entire leadership team I would therefore like to thank everyone at Audi and our partners around the world who contributed to this success!

We have managed to generate a strong momentum of growth on all levels – whether it’s brand, product, or business. We have seized the opportunity to sharpen our course and to develop a clear strategy and roadmap towards the future with ”Vorsprung 2030“.

It is our purpose to provide meaningful technology to keep the world in motion. And we have committed ourselves clearly this year to phase out the internal combustion engine altogether between the years 2026 and 2033. 

Everyone at Audi is living progress. For me, progress means having a clear ambition to get better every day, to make a personal contribution to this great automotive transformation and to keep Audi at the forefront. To do this, we need to look beyond the familiar. We need to seek out different points of view and to question what already exists.

In view of the numerous challenges this year, progress is also taking on a new meaning. It's not just about selling more and more cars, but about moving forward, not standing still. Even if you sometimes have to take other branches.

Progress is, above all, a team effort. And we have an amazing, strong, and agile team.

To sum it up: Despite the challenges of today we stay on target. That’s why I look optimistically into the future. Future is our attitude. Together we push the transformation and supercharge our brand. We offer a highly attractive portfolio of products and services. We are clearly focused on electrification and digitalization. And, last, but not least,we stay true to our human-centricity principle – because enthusiastic employees and customers play the decisive role for the success of our brand.

The future is in our hands, and I'm sure there's a great future ahead of us that we will shape together!

2021 was a year of progress, an electrifying year. 2022 will be a year of potential with more exciting experiences – so stay tuned 😊!

May you all achieve your goals, stay bold and most importantly, stay healthy!