Audi A3 Production on Track for Record

• Productivity increased
• Greater volume safeguards employment
• Extra shifts

Production of the Audi A3 continues to gather pace, with a total of 61,897 A3 models built in the first three months of the year. This is equivalent to an increase of 19.7 percent compared with the first quarter of 2005.

The Audi A3 is providing the Audi plant in Ingolstadt with greater impetus. “Thanks to further optimisation of processes and an annual increase in productivity of more than ten percent, it has been possible to boost the daily production volume for the A3 from around 740 vehicles to the current figure of over 850,” stated Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Board Member for Production. He added that the high A3 production volume not only safeguards jobs, but also requires more extra shifts to be worked. 25 extra shifts have been agreed for the January to April period up to now. The Ingolstadt plant also achieved an increase in production of the Audi A4. A total of 86,673 of the A4 were built in the first quarter, a rise of 4.1 percent.

Heizmann: “Our goal is to ensure that our plants are fit for the future with the existing model range and the addition of further new models. The A3 and A3 Sportback are important cornerstones for achieving this goal.” A total of 220,486 units of this model were built last year (up 26.2 percent). This represents more than a quarter of total production.

Source: Audi Press Release

The A3 is one of my favorite Audi's- stylish, quick, well made.

But I sure don't see many of them on the road in my mid-west city.
And I think I know why...they are vastly over-priced- 39k for a mildly optioned quattro version- without the bells and whistles of sat/nav.
As of now you can't get the 4cyl engine linked to quattro- it just isn't an option...and it's too bad because the A3 has been bumped into A4 territory.
Great car- weird MSRP.

To me the A3 is just an expensive Golf, I'd never buy one over a golf!