Recently, Audi held an annual press conference to present the achievements of 2021 and the plan for 2022.
In 2021, Audi achieved sales of €53 billion, achieving record operating profit and net cash flow. Operating profit was EUR 5,498 million, with an operating margin of 10.4% and net cash flow of EUR 7.8 billion. At the same time, Audi made bold changes, with sales of electric vehicles (BEVs) up 57.5 percent.
[1] Sales were flat with last year, and electric vehicles grew rapidly
Despite the semiconductor shortage, electric vehicles performed strongly, with the Audi brand selling 1,680,512 vehicles in 2021 (2020: 1,692,773 units), -0.7% from the previous year and essentially unchanged from 2020.
Last year, Audi delivered a total of 81,894 pure electric vehicles (2020: 52,011 units) to customers, an increase of 57.5% year-on-year, and this rapid growth confirms Audi's development towards electric vehicles. The highest-selling models were the Audi Q4 e-tron (21,098 units) and the Audi e-tron GT Quattro (6,896 units).
[2] Sales increased by 6.2% year-on-year, and both operating profit and net cash flow reached record highs.
In 2021, Audi Group sales reached €53.68 billion (2020: €49,973 million), an increase of 6.2% year-on-year, reflecting the strong prices of the Q3, Q5, e-tron lineup, Lamborghini and Ducati brands. An operating profit of EUR 5,498 million was achieved, representing an increase of 10.4% over the previous year. If the China business is included in the operating profit, the operating margin is 12.5%.
The Audi Group's net cash flow in 2021 also reached a record high of €7,757 million (2020: €4,589 million). This is an increase of about 70% compared to last year.
In 2021, Audi's sales revenue in China was 1.14 billion euros (2020: 1.09 billion euros). Audi and its partners FAW and SAIC motor plan to expand their model portfolio in China to more than 10 pure electric models, and plan to expand their presence in the Chinese market, especially in the field of electric vehicles.
[3] Strong teamwork: as a brand group's ambitious goal
The 2022 report includes the Bentley brand in the combined Audi report for the first time. Within high-end brand groups such as Audi, Bentley, Ducati and Lamborghini, we will work more closely together to realize the roadmap for future electric vehicles and digital technologies. It aims to supply more than 3 million vehicles to customers by 2030 and aims to achieve an operating margin of more than 11%.
[4] Outlook for 2022
Audi expects to deliver between 1.8 million and 1.9 million vehicles to customers this year. Sales are expected to be between €62 billion and €65 billion, with prices expected to remain high. At the same time, the operating margin is expected to be between 9-11%, and net cash flow is expected to be between €4.5 billion and €5.5 billion, taking into account that working capital has been normalized and increased slightly and investment activities are increasing
5. 2030: The next step in electrification and digital transformation
Audi is systematically pursuing the transition to a sustainable business model. As its corporate strategy "Vorsprung. One of the key elements of 2030". Starting in 2026, Audi will only launch pure electric drive models to the global market, and there are already more than 20 electric drive models on sale. In its gradual decarbonization, Audi aims to reduce its automotive-related CO2 emissions across its entire value chain (excluding locally produced vehicles) by 40 percent from 2018 levels by 2030.
[6] Integrated travel ecosystem
With the shift to battery electric vehicles and autonomous driving, customers are increasingly focused on building an ecosystem that sets them apart from their competitors. As a first step, Audi is preparing to transition to electric vehicles through comprehensive charging services. Last year, Audi successfully piloted its high-quality fast charging service, the Audi Charging Center, in Nuremberg. The second pilot run, scheduled to begin in Zurich in the second half of this year, will fully test the platform expansion for various concepts.
In addition to expanding its charging infrastructure, Audi is also prioritizing the expansion of its data-based business. For example, it accelerates software development and builds target technologies through a strategic partnership with CARIAD, the software division of the Volkswagen Group.
[7] The A6 Avant e-tron concept car debuts
At the 2022 annual press conference, Audi unveiled the "Audi A6 Avant e-tron Concept" for the first time, which is the next generation of the future electric A6 luxury class and the second concept of the Audi A6 e-tron. The subsequent production version of the Audi A6 e-tron will be the first all-electric vehicle based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), a platform for forward-thinking mid-range and high-end models developed under Audi's leadership. The Audi A6 Avant e-tron Concept can be charged from a fast charging station for approximately 300 km (186 miles) of range via an 800-volt system, with a charging capacity of up to 270 kW. As a result, Audi is expanding its electric vehicle portfolio into major areas and making electric vehicles its main product line.