Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has announced that the brand with the four rings will see its product portfolio expand to a staggering 60 models in the not too distant future. That’s up 11 models from today’s 49-car lineup.
Stadler made the announcement at a special event held today to mark the sale of the 1.5 millionth Audi since the start of the year; Audi has reason to celebrate as the brand was only expecting to reach the milestone in 2015. The 1.5 millionth Audi was an A3 Sportback, which was personally handed over to its customer earlier today at the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt, Germany.
Now the chase is on to reach 2 million sales by 2020, Audi also announced today. However, to help achieve that goal the automaker will add even more models, primarily in the SUV and crossover segments but also in the full-size luxury segment.
“We will continue to write this success story and expand our product range from the current 49 to 60 models,” Stadler said at today’s event. “We see a great deal of potential, particularly in the SUV segment and in the especially prestigious full-size category.”
Some new additions we know are coming are the Q1 subcompact crossover and Q6 coupe crossover. Other possibilities include a Q8 luxury crossover, a Q2 coupe crossover and a new A9 four-door coupe to serve as the brand’s flagship. There’s even talk that the nanuk high-riding supercar concept may spawn a production version.
It’s hard to imagine that only a decade ago Audi was selling half the vehicles it is now. Sales have continued to grow each year since then, with 2013’s year-to-date figure currently exceeding the previous record set in 2012 by 7.4 percent.
