You're watching...
Audi of America President Scott Keogh on the company’s sales, investments and new models.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
As well German automaker Audi -- did you hear about them they posted record breaking US auto sales in December.
Sales rose seventeen point 3% year over year how will they keep this momentum going into 2013.
Joining us now -- -- Fox Business exclusive is Audi of America president and a good friend -- Fox Business Scott gill Scott great to see.
US sales just going gangbusters congratulations.
On that but I.
I gotta put in context because it's a big world and Audi of course is part of the whole world economy.
Does the success of your group America -- America does that balance out the losses from what's going on in Europe.
You know.
Idea as you know.
Always strong across the world and we will have a record your globally we will do over one point four million units around the globe and that we have actually held our own in Europe.
Were significantly up in China but of course being up 18% year to date in America is definitely helping the cause.
A lack -- easier said Rick Scott because we love you but I we're -- hold it usually the fire Audi vehicle sales.
In November in Germany Europe shrank four point 3% so there was shrinkage in Europe.
Will that did did the boom times in America balance that out.
Absolutely will and -- were up 18% have you seen year to date.
And I think we will really pull our fair share.
Offer -- across the globe obviously how have you gotten Americans.
To be so attracted to Audi vehicles what is it you -- I think -- a simple formula we launched great products.
We have great technologies.
And of course you've seen a recent announcement from -- we're investing seventeen.
Billion dollars between now and through 2016.
This is not a business where you can cut corners it's a business where you need to invest that's exactly what Audi does.
That allows us now fresh products fresh technology.
And consumers are a lot of them.
On the other hand your parent company of the idol wanna be the bearer of bad news here but -- just I just -- -- facts.
Your parent company Volkswagen is is bracing -- for some flatter earnings because they have invested.
So heavily on high tech for smaller cars are particularly over Europe.
So it doesn't always pan out does -- that that high spending and what are you spending money on for out of.
Over the long haul spending absolutely does pay out -- the -- -- business and you need to have the latest and greatest stuff.
Protection luxury segment so near term obviously with the investments you may have some flatness but over the long term and absolutely does -- out.
If you look at -- specifically.
-- -- looking at new production facilities so we're increasing production and hungry -- increasing production not in Mexico while and we're also looking at plug in hybrids were looking at more diesel technology and of course all new products.
We have entirely all new -- three sedan.
An all new Q3 SUV.
Which will be hitting the US market in 2014.
And these are all the investments that we are making -- about how.
You guys find the demand for plug in hybrids here in the US -- nobody recently axed itself model -- to the electric vehicle concept from production but.
You -- pretty committed to having a renewable -- -- that there are other things that you want to do but.
Do you find that the -- ban for the plug in hybrid seems to be something American consumers can wrap their minds around a little more comfortably.
Yet look I I think we have to be clear about this thing I think you have to look at consumer acceptability.
And you have to look at infrastructure.
And if we look at the near term without he has done is we've invested heavily in our current technologies -- because a lot of work that can be done with the combustion engine.
The second phase is diesel which were launching four new diesel engines this year.
As you start to move beyond diesel we think there is room for plug in hybrids.
Now I think this is going to be obviously.
From a point of view.
I'm not digested market -- this thing but clearly a technology that we believe Scott we're looking at some of these wonderful commercials of course Super -- coming up we're gonna see more them.
How much -- your ads and marketing play a bigger success.
It plays a lot to our success.
Really what we've done as we've turned ourselves and our marketing we've become a challenger -- we've come at a very aggressive brand.
But most importantly we've gotten into the conversation in America yeah historically -- was an unknown brand if you well.
And now we're front and center and really the Super Bowl has let us there and we'll be back this year.
So that's gonna ask you at a different concepts and not the vampire thing -- heard something different who we have a whole different concept unfortunately not gonna let me talk about these things -- we have a great concept we're excited shared a couple of -- well Jeff we thank you and we like to see business is doing well -- -- -- good to see a -- take yourself Scott thank you very much.
