With relations between Germany and South Africa strengthened even further by the German government’s commitment of over R6 billion to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, Audi Board Member, Hildegard Wortmann, is currently visiting the country.
She is part of the Board of Management and responsible for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG, as well as a member of the Extended Executive Committee for the Volkswagen Group. She plays an active role in shaping the transformation to a more electric and sustainable future of mobility.
“The automotive industry is facing the biggest upheaval in decades: becoming more sustainability-focused, digitally integrated and geared towards aligning with emerging customer needs. Audi has a long history in South Africa, and now we’re working on accelerating the transformation to an electrically powered, digitally enhanced brand, shaping the future of premium mobility,” she says.
“It’s in this spirit of innovation, spurred on by the co-operation between the German and South African governments, that we’re investing in the country’s onward journey in the premium automotive space,” she says.
“That doesn’t mean simply offering our customers a range of EVs, but rather a broader and longer-term strategy to create an ecosystem that incorporates convenient charging, seamless navigating, predictive maintenance, autonomous driving services and more.”
South Africa has a track record of leapfrogging more developed countries in the adoption of certain technologies and a similar opportunity exists in the areas of renewable energy and therefore electric vehicles.
Joining her on her visit is Andre Konsbruck, Vice President for Sales Overseas, who says that Audi continues to make impactful contributions to EV adoption in South Africa. “Audi’s two phases of investment in charging infrastructure demonstrate our commitment to the transition of South Africa towards EV technology,” he says.
“We’re also taking a lead role in conversations that progress the future of mobility. The first steps toward that future in this country started last year with the introduction of the e-tron range, and the journey will accelerate in the months and years to come, thanks to these investments and the roll-out of further exciting products.”
Audi launched the first models in its fully-electric e-tron range in South Africa in February last year, with more set to follow in the near future.
To support its local roll-out of EVs, and to advance the adoption of EVs in South Africa in general, Audi partnered with GridCars early in 2022 and with Rubicon in recent months to set up a total of 127 new EV charge connectors across 76 chargers to expand the existing public charging network in South Africa for all electric vehicle drivers.
We reported on the auction of a one-of-a-kind Audi RS6 Avant GT in November last year with part of proceeds going the Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology. Audi South Africa celebrated the official handover of a R500 000 donation to the Centre following the successful auction of the exclusive vehicle.
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