Audi to open new dealership weekly in China in 2013

German car producer Audi AG plans to open one new Audi dealership each week on average in China in 2013, Audi's official said in Ingolstadt Tuesday.

"At present, we are rapidly expanding our dealer network in China," Chairman of the board of Management of Audi AG Rupert Stadler said at the company's annual press conference, adding that about half of the Chinese cities with more than a million inhabitants still have to be included in the dealer network.

"By 2017, we want to increase the number of Audi dealerships to more than 500," Stadler said.

In addition, Stadler emphasized that the number of worldwide sites may increase, but one standard stays the same: Made by Audi.

On the other hand, the chairman admitted that the need for training for service personnel is enormous.

"This year alone, we will train more than 6,000 new sales and service employees there locally," said Stadler, "If one also includes the further training of experienced employees, we come to a total of approximately 240,000 man-days of training in 2013. This means that each employee in retailing in China receives an average of 13 days training and further training this year."

The world's largest Audi Training Center will be opened in Beijing in 2013, which is the only way to achieve the high Audi service standard everywhere with a rapidly growing number of dealerships.

Audi presented all of its key figures for the past financial year at its annual press conference held in Ingolstadt, with more than 300 international journalists attending.