Audi plans more service centers and technicians

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Audi plans more service centers and technicians

Audi hopes to sell 22,000 vehicles in Korea next year and will expand its number of service centers and technicians to enhance the quality of after-sales service.

Audi Korea, led by Johannes Thammer, yesterday announced its business plan for 2014, which aims to focus on growth based on quality.

In the first 10 months of this year the company sold 16,514 vehicles, up 30.6 percent from a year ago. Its 2013 sales goal was 16,000. The Korean unit of the German premium brand automaker expects sales this year to reach 20,000.

Audi, currently the fourth best-selling foreign brand in Korea, introduced five new models this year. In 2014, it plans to introduce three new models - the A3 sedan, TTS Competition and RS7.

“For next year, our sales target is 22,000 vehicles, following the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association’s market estimate of 10 percent growth,” Audi Korea said in a statement. “But we will focus more on service quality and customer satisfaction.”

The company opened seven service centers with 61 work bays this year, and it plans an additional 116 centers with a total of 350 work-bays next year. It also aims to have 410 technicians, 128 more than the current level, with the opening of training center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, by the end of the year. The training center cost 1.4 billion won ($1.3 million).

Audi Korea also plans to open three more showrooms next year. Meanwhile, it said it also will expand corporate social responsibility programs. It currently runs the “Audi Apprentice Program” with eight colleges and will hire 32 students next year. So far, 58 students who participated in the program got jobs with Audi.

The company also said it will double the fund for Korea Energy Management Corporation’s carbon neutral program, while sponsoring events like the Audi Design Challenge as well as expanding programs for motorsports.


BY JOO KYUNG-DON [kjoo@joongang.co.kr ]

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