From：Internet Info Agency 2019-04-30 17:08:08
Audi’s performance car division to be headed by two officials as current chairman retires
Audi has revised the management structure at the head of its Sport performance car division.
Effective 1 May 2019, the BMW M and Mercedes-Benz AMG rival will be jointly managed by Oliver Hoffmann and Julius Seebach.
The move follows the retirement of its existing Audi Sport chairman, Michael-Julius Renz.
42-year-old Hoffmann, previously head of quality management at Lamborghini and Audi’s Gyor plant in Hungary and heavily involved in the development of the German car maker’s V10 gasoline engine, will take on a double role in the new management. As well as continuing to head technical development at Audi Sport, he takes on similar responsibilities for Audi’s Neckarsulm plant in Germany.
The move hints at a greater future role for Audi Sport at Audi’s Neckarsulm plant, which is currently undergoing restructuring as part of the cost cutting initiative announced by Audi chairman Bram Schot at the Gevena motor show back in March.
35-year-old Seebach, currently head of strategy and powertrain control within Audi Sport’s technical department, will be responsible for business and commercial functions in its new management structure. An industrial engineer, he previously held positions at Porsche, where he was involved in various projects, including the Panamera and powertrain development.
Commenting on the new management positions at the head of Audi Sport, Audi R&D boss, Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, said: “Transformation means becoming even more effective and innovative. By combining both positions we are strengthening Neckarsulm as a technology location and at the same time securing its future viability.”
Among the new models planned by Audi Sport in 2019 are successor models to the RS6 and RS7 – both of which are planned to make their public debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
Also under development at the company’s Neckarsulm base in south-west Germany is the new RS Q5, RS Q7 and RS Q8 as well a follow up to the first generation RS Q3 in a major SUV offensive planned by Audi Sport.
Other models figuring in its future is a production version of the electric powered Audi e-tron GT, which is being developed by Audi Sport in close co-operation with Porsche.
