Audi A4, Q5 could be built Stateside
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Audi Q5.
Taking a lesson from BMW, who have been successfully manufacturing cars and SUVs in Spartanburg, South Carolina for more than a decade, Audi may seek manufacturing capabilities for their A4 sedan and Q5 SUV in the States. The new Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, just announced last week, may be tasked with building upwards of 200,000 vehicles per year -- including the two Audis. Estimated to cost $973.5 million, the 1,359 acre plant is large enough to handle the domestic production for VW, Audi, and even shareholder Porsche... although the proud automaker from Stuttgart vehemently denies even considering it.
Gallery: New Audi A4
Gallery: Beijing '08: 2009 Audi Q5
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
txdesign 8:01PM (7/28/2008)
Dear Audi,
Please stop sending more SUVs. We really would like the A1 over here asap. You say the Euro/Dollar exchange rate is a problem? Hmm, BMW is selling all the Minis they can make. What gives?
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JC 9:22PM (7/28/2008)
its pound/dollar for the mini, so its even worst. the Germans claim the increasing msrp of their cars in the last few years was due to exchange rate problem. why do i doubt that german cars built in north america will be any cheaper to the consumer. The consumer continues to lose. =(. Imagine how much cheaper say a Mini cooper or a Smart car would be if they were built in the US with the same profit margin as they have now for those cars.
MBS 11:18AM (7/29/2008)
Dear EPA,
Please stop making it so prohibitively expensive for manufacturers to offer more variety of models and power train options.
By forcing manufacturers to only bring over the biggest volume-sellers you deprive consumers of the option of buying smaller and/or more efficient models.
I would really like the Q5 with a 2.0T gas or 2.0TDI and a manual transmission here ASAP.
xantia 8:13PM (7/28/2008)
Excellent news for the US economy! Hope it happens.
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Rafael Illan 9:04PM (7/28/2008)
i think audi want to remain a premium brand in the US, thus someone in marketing Dept thinks that bringing the a1 will bring down some of the status audi already has by offering a cheaper model OR parent company VW doesnt wany audi to compete with their offerings.who knows
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txdesign 9:21PM (7/28/2008)
Maybe they'll change their minds if Mercedes really does bring the A-Class to the US as reported recently on this site.
MONTE 12:09AM (7/29/2008)
Heck yeah, bring the A1 and the A-Class to the States with the diesel options. Yes, if I want a 600hp V10 in the United States I just walk down to a Dodge dealer, but what if I want one of the cool little European cars? We are pretty much SOL here when it comes to these little guys and it sucks. Ah well.
anbanks 9:25PM (7/28/2008)
Dear Audi,
Please stop sending more SUVs. We really would like the A1 over here asap.
Recados Para Orkut
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the law 12:16AM (7/29/2008)
BMW owns mini euro vs dollar
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Nick 1:18AM (7/29/2008)
I think Audi isn't getting the message, the U.S. does no longer want SUVs and even crossover SUVs.
Why does everyone think that compact can not be made premium? Make a smaller, sporty/luxury car above the Mini and it will sell.
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MBS 11:25AM (7/29/2008)
Actually the message that Audi isn't getting is the people want _efficient_ small SUVs and crossovers.
So they put out all these press releases of how efficient the new engine/transmission combinations are in the new Q5 with the TDis the new 2.0T with manual transmission or the 7-speed automated manual transmission.
What are they bringing to the US? The old 3.2 V6 with a generic slushbox automatic.
Sid 12:24PM (7/29/2008)
Audi already has a premium compact model...the A3! It is a nice car!
I would agree that Audi should try to bring the A1 over. It will compete well with the mini.
MikeW 4:20PM (7/29/2008)
Not old 3.2, it is the new 3.1 Audi Valvelift V6.
Also Audi is using the second generation ZF 6 speed automatics.
MikeW 5:02PM (7/29/2008)
and by the second or third year, the 3.1 V6 will be replaced with the supercharged 3.0 V6.
Hopefully with the 8 speed automatic.
Then Audi can make the 2.0t the standard engine.
mike m. 9:53AM (7/29/2008)
This move will at least shut-up the constant VW and Audi bashers. Bashing VW and Audi would be like bashing fellow Americans! Ooooooooh!
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