New Home for Audi in Newcastle, Australia

SYDNEY – March 11, 2010: The new Audi Centre Newcastle facility will be officially opened today by Audi Australia’s managing director, Mr Uwe Hagen, along with owner and dealer principal, Mr Wayne Sanders.

This completely redeveloped 1,100 square metre showroom and aftersales facility has been designed following Audi’s global ‘Terminal’ architecture for provincial centres and boasts an indoor display area of 480 square metres for 16 new Audi vehicles, plus an outdoor area which will showcase up to 12 Audi Approved Plus vehicles.

For service customers, 4 dedicated work bays directly onsite will ensure that aftersales service for the brand is a top priority at the new facility.

Reflecting the brand’s national growth, sales for Audi in Newcastle have grown exponentially in the past four years since owner and dealer principal Wayne Sanders joined the Audi dealer network. Starting with a relatively low base in 2005, the brand has grown by a massive 731 percent, selling 241 cars in 2009, an increase of 21 percent over the previous year.

Audi has just enjoyed it’s fifth record year in Australia, and the healthy sales in Newcastle reflect this national success, and the investment made in the brand by the Audi Centre Newcastle team, according to Audi Australia’s Managing Director, Uwe Hagen.

“This stunning new single-storey facility is a strong reflection of the success of the brand in Newcastle. It is also testament to Wayne Sander’s vision with his first Audi showroom, known as the Audi Gallery Newcastle, which was opened in the middle of Newcastle’s café strip – and not in the heart of its automotive precinct,” Mr Hagen said.

“At the time, this was very unusual but shows that this well-considered strategy was worth a small risk to create something new for the brand in the area. Customers have clearly embraced the concept and the sales growth shows this.”

According to Wayne Sanders, the new facility was the next step to ensure continued growth of the Audi brand.

“In order for the dealership to continue its growth path here, I felt the investment was very important for our future. Audi Australia has shown strong commitment to the Australian market and as a result we have also enjoyed success in Newcastle. Given the onslaught of new Audi models which are expected to arrive until 2015, we certainly needed to build a bigger, newer space for Audi,” Mr Sanders said.

By 2010, every single Audi dealership around Australia will have undergone, or be in the midst, of major renovations, or complete rebuilds in line with the company’s dynamic growth strategy. In total, around $170 million will be invested in new facilities by the Audi dealer network around the country.

The new Audi Centre Newcastle facility commenced it’s re-development and refurbishment in Q4, 2009. The $1.5 million facility was redeveloped by bolkm project management and construction.

On Thursday 11 March 2010, the official opening will take place from 6.00 – 8.00pm at the facility, located at the corner of Parry Streets and Stewart Ave, Newcastle. Audi Ambassador and rugby legend, George Gregan, will emcee the event.