Audi quattro partners with Winter Games NZ for second term

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Audi quattro partners with Winter Games NZ for second term
Audi New Zealand is pleased to announce the continuation of its naming rights sponsorship of the Audi quattro Winter Games NZ for 2015 and 2017.

In 2013 Audi New Zealand entered a successful partnership with the Games held biennially in Queenstown, Lake Wanaka and Naseby creating “The Audi quattro Winter Games NZ”. The Federation International de Ski (FIS) hailed the 2013 Games as hosting the best World Cups on the international snow sports circuit.

They achieved record attendance, a global audience of 518 million and were recognised as the leading sporting event of the year, winning the Event Excellence category in Sport NZ’s Sport and Recreation Awards.

Dean Sheed, general manager of Audi New Zealand, said Winter Games NZ are an important part of Audi quattro’s global portfolio of winter sports partnerships.

“The Games have proven to be an exceptional platform for Audi quattro enabling us to showcase quattro’s sophisticated technology in both alpine and urban environments to a local and global audience. Our brand is also synonymous with snow sports – we have several snow event partnerships in the northern hemisphere and sponsor elite snow athletes in other markets. This sponsorship allows us to support New Zealand on an international stage and is an important part of Audi’s global sponsorship portfolio.”

Sir Eion Edgar, chairman of Winter Games NZ, said working with such a prestigious world-class partner further reinforced the strong standing of Winter Games NZ in global snow sports.

“Audi is one of the most respected brands in the world, renowned for its quality and innovation, values shared by Winter Games NZ,” he said. “We’re delighted to extend our partnership with Audi to the 2015 and 2017 events and look forward to working with them on both a national and global level. Together we will continue to deliver events that take snow sports competition to the next level for athletes, media and spectators around the world.”

Winter Games NZ 2015 take place from 21-30 August and feature alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, freeskiing and curling at Coronet Peak, Snow Farm NZ, - Cardrona Alpine Resort and Naseby. With the best of the world’s elite snow sports athletes competing to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea, New Zealand provides an ideal location for these athletes to train ahead of the Olympics.

The Games also include a full “Downtown Sessions” festival programme featuring films, live music and entertainment in Queenstown and Lake Wanaka.

Audi New Zealand also hosts its world-class Audi ice experience driving programme each August in the Queenstown region and Sheed says he is looking forward to a month of showcasing quattro at its best.

“Our Audi ice experience programme is world class, and through previous participants’ word of mouth, we now have more people than ever wanting to experience the challenge of putting a quattro through its paces on the ice. In 2015 our ice driving programme will run in parallel with the Games in August and will provide guests with a uniquely Audi experience, from the mountain to the towns of Queenstown and Wanaka.”

For more information, go to www.wintergamesnz.kiwi.

About Audi
The Audi Group delivered 1,455,123 cars of the Audi brand to customers in 2012. In 2012, the company posted revenue of €48.8 billion and an operating profit of €5.4 billion. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Győr (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). The Audi Q7 is built in Bratislava (Slovakia). In November 2012, CKD production of the Audi Q7 was added to the existing Audi A4, A6 and Q5 manufacturing operations in Aurangabad (India). At the Brussels plant, production of the Audi A1 has been running since 2010, while production of the new A1 Sportback began in 2012. The Audi Q3 has been built in Martorell (Spain) since June 2011. The Company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide. AUDI AG’s wholly owned subsidiaries include AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft. (Győr, Hungary), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy), AUDI BRUSSELS S.A./N.V. (Brussels, Belgium), quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm and the sports motorcycle manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy). Audi currently employs more than 70,000 people worldwide, including around 50,000 in Germany. The brand with the four rings plans to invest a total of €11 billion by 2015 – mainly in new products and the expansion of production capacities – in order to sustain the Company’s technological lead embodied in its “Vorsprung durch Technik” claim. Audi is currently expanding its site in Győr (Hungary) and will start production in Foshan (China) in late 2013 and in San José Chiapa (Mexico) in 2016.

Audi lives up to its corporate responsibility and regards sustainability not only as a basis for financial success, but also as essential to ensure a worthwhile future for the generations to come. The company has therefore strategically established sustainability as a principle for its products and processes. Corporate responsibility includes fuel-efficient products, resource-efficient production processes, a future-oriented and fair personnel policy, effective involvement in society and responsible business operations in general. This gives the motto of “Vorsprung durch Technik” a new dimension that extends far beyond the products. The ultimate goal is CO2-neutral mobility.

ENDS

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