Audi celebrates record year

Audi AG's 117th (!) annual general meeting Wednesday was chock full of positive news for shareholders. The company racked up all-time record sales in 2005, but that record doesn't look like it will stand for very long - the first four months of 2006 have been the best in Audi's history.

According to Audi chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn, the company will break the one million unit sales mark "as early as the end of 2008." Winterkorn predicts annual sales of at least 1.4 million by 2015.

Adding a little more sparkle to the company's performance is the fact that revenues are rising even faster than unit sales, partly driven by successful upscale models-- notably the A6.

Winterkorn pointed out the importance of global markets to Audi's future growth, noting that two key markets, the U.S. and China, now account for over 22 percent of Audi sales.

[Source: Audi]