AUDI AG is acquiring from Investindustrial Group the tradition-steeped Italian sports motorcycle manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., which has its registered office in Bologna. The transaction will be completed as quickly as possible once authorized by the competition authorities. The Supervisory Boards of AUDI AG and Volkswagen AG approved the acquisition today in Hamburg. Ducati is known worldwide as a leading brand in motorcycle manufacture, with outstanding expertise in engine development and lightweight construction.

• Chairman Rupert Stadler: “As a sporty, global premium brand, Ducati is an excellent fit for Audi.”
• Third pillar for AUDI AG in Italy
• Ducati a leading player in engine technology and lightweight construction

Alongside the traditional Italian brands Lamborghini and Italdesign, Ducati is now a third pillar for AUDI AG in Northern Italy. Another building block in the Company’s growth strategy thus falls into place. Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, declared: “Ducati is known worldwide as a premium brand among motorcycle manufacturers and has a long tradition of building sporty motorcycles. It has great expertise in high-performance engines and lightweight construction, and is one of the world’s most profitable motorcycle manufacturers. That makes Ducati an excellent fit for Audi.” The progressive control systems and special combustion chamber process of Ducati engines, their resulting sporty character, and Ducati’s extensive know-how in lightweight construction thus offer great potential for AUDI AG and the Volkswagen Group.

Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council of AUDI AG, explains that the employee representatives of AUDI AG support the Company’s sustainable, co-determined growth strategy. “We must use the opportunities offered by globalization for Audi – and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Everyone at Audi is looking forward to working with our new colleagues from Ducati,” commented Mosch.

Ducati is a globally active company and has manufacturing operations at its headquarters in Bologna and at its own factory in Thailand. It maintains a series of importer companies in strategic markets. Experts predict that the motorcycle market will enjoy strong growth over the next few years, especially in Asia. In 2011, Ducati sold around 42,000 motorcycles and generated revenue of some €480 million, employing around 1,100 people.

The company was founded by Adriano and Marcello Ducati in Bologna in 1926. Known originally as Società Scientifica Radiobrevetti Ducati, it initially built parts for radios. It ventured into the manufacture of motorcycles in 1949.

Ducati has been actively involved in motorcycle racing for many decades through its racing division Ducati Corse. Its racing activities are currently focused on the Ducati official factory team in the MotoGP class of the Motorcycle World Championship and in the Superbike World Championship, supporting competitive private teams. Ducati won the manufacturers’ championship in this latter class 17 times in 21 championships and the pilots’ 14 times.

- oneighturbo.com

Audi’s future e-tron models will cover long distances powered by practically silent electric motors. To ensure that pedestrians in urban settings will hear them, the brand has developed a synthetic solution: Audi e-sound.

Audi continues its success story in China: The company sold 90,063 automobiles in China and Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2012 – a year-on-year increase of 40 percent.

• Sales in China rose by 40 percent to 90,063 cars
• Head of Marketing and Sales, Peter Schwarzenbauer: “New Audi A6L will further boost growth”
• 31,505 vehicles delivered in March sets new record

“This figure sets a new record. Audi just had its most successful quarter ever in China,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Marketing and Sales. “And we plan on generating double-digit sales growth in coming months in the Chinese market.”

Substantial growth was achieved for the long-wheelbase Audi A4, built locally in China: 24,536 deliveries (a rise of 68 percent). Sales of the Audi Q5 nearly doubled (93 percent) to 20,870 units. The third-generation of the long-wheelbase Audi A6L, which is being introduced onto the market at the moment, will further boost sales. Sales of imported Audi models rose by 51 percent to 17,379 units (excluding Hong Kong).

With 31,505 vehicles delivered in March, yet another sales record was broken. This represents a year-on-year increase of 37 percent.

The Audi world will return its focus to China again at the end of April. In conjunction with its joint venture partner FAW, Audi will present the next-generation Audi A6L, among other models, at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, or Auto China 2012, from April 23 to May 2.

Quattro de Mayo is an amazing tradition, nearly a decade in the making. Click here to see what attendees from QDM 2011 had to say about the event.

After winning the Sebring 12hrs, Audi stayed over to conduct tests of their new 2012 R18 e-tron quattro and ultra Le Mans racecars. Leo Parente and /DRIVE were invited to observe and talk with the team. Watch the e-tron in action, listen to the thoughts of Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Ulrich Baretsky and Allan McNish.

If you are an instructor and are interested in volunteering your time and expertise at the clinic, click here to fill out a brief questionnaire.

Or, if you have questions, please click here to contact us.
Or, if you know of other instructors who may be interested in volunteering, please don’t hesitate to send them our way.

The Audi motorsport experience will provide Audi racing enthusiasts with unparalleled race hospitality that everyone is sure to enjoy. Audi will offer access to a trackside suite on the main straight with an excellent view of the Daytona road course.

Audi motorsport experience  – Audi Suite

• Access to Audi Suite
• 4 -day Daytona event ticket
• Customer racing Driver Meet and Greet
• Opportunity to visit the Audi Sport pit area during the race
• Audi Sport Technical Discussion
• Audi Sport Gift Items
• Exclusive Audi Car Corral Parking
• Premium catering and refreshments on Saturday and Sunday

Ticket Prices

• Audi Club North America (ACNA) Members: $200
• Non ACNA Members: $250 (includes 1-year ACNA membership)

Tickets are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Please click here to purchase an Audi motorsport experience credential packet for the Rolex 24

Click here for a printable weekend itinerary with track map

Audi Car Corral Package – This option does not include access to the Audi Suite

• Two-day unreserved grandstand and infield ticket with garage and Sprint FANZONE access, January 28-29
• Rolex 24 50th anniversary event hat with Audi logo
• Exclusive Audi corral parking behind the Frontstretch grandstands, with easy access to infield trams

Ticket Prices – $45.00

Please click here to purchase an Audi Car Corral package for the Rolex 24

Some of the concepts they will learn include:

• Importance of vision
• Cornering – understeer and oversteer
• Braking
• Emergency lane change and object avoidance manuvers
• Proactive vs. reactive driving techniques
• Effects of weight transfer
• Driver courtesy
• Safe following distance

Registration for this event is limited to 32 students and pre-registration filled nearly half of the spots, so act fast! The clinic is only $105 for the entire day, which includes a boxed lunch. Membership in Audi Club North America is not required. Click here to register for the clinic.

Click here to download a raffle ticket.