(March 17, 2013) The Audi Group surpassed its targets for 2012, and despite the significant effects of the debt crisis in some countries and a contracting overall market in Europe, the company posted record figures for production, shipments, revenue and earnings.

In the past financial year, Audi sold more than 1.45 million automobiles and increased its revenue to €48.8 billion ($63.9 billion). The Audi Group was also able to increase its operating profit to €5.4 billion ($7 billion), a record result in the company’s history.

In the full year, the operating return on sales of 11.0 percent was above the strategic target corridor of eight to ten percent. In 2013, the company intends to continue its growth and gain additional customers. In addition, the automobile manufacturer plans to recruit approximately 1,500 new employees in Germany alone, and will offer 700 young people an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Rupert Stadler, the CEO of AUDI AG, said at a press conference last week, “2012 was a very successful year for us. We surpassed our targets and added an attractive premium brand, Ducati, to our brand portfolio. We intend to continue our growth in 2013 and with two new plants this year, we will create the right conditions to reinforce our claim to leadership over the long term.”

As of 2016, Audi will produce the next generation of the Q5 at its new plant in San José Chiapa, Mexico.

Worldwide, in 2012 the company shipped 1,455,123 automobiles of the Audi brand (2011: 1,302,659). That represents growth of 11.7 percent or 152,500 additional customers.

In the United States, Audi set new sales records in each month of 2012, further accelerating the growth rates of 2011. For the full year, Audi sold 139,310 new cars and SUVs to eclipse the previous sales record set a year earlier by 18.5%. Audi sales in the U.S. have increased 68.4% just since 2009.

Records continue to fall in 2013. Audi earlier this month reported February sales of 10,877 vehicles, making it the strongest start to a year in the brand’s history. Sales for the month rose 27.5% from a year earlier, with January-February year-to-date sales up 17.2% to a record 20,993 vehicles delivered to U.S. customers.