Audi says production is not threatened by gas shortages

BERLIN — Audi CEO Markus Duesmann does not expect any production stoppages at the automaker’s German plants, despite the difficult geopolitical situation and looming energy shortages.

“We assume that we will have enough energy available,” Duessmann told the Augsburger Allgemeinen newspaper, after being asked if there was enough power to produce cars on schedule during the winter.

Duesmann said he also does not expect the gas supply in Germany to collapse, despite the country’s heavy dependence on supplies from Russia.

“At the moment, I do not expect it,” he said, adding that the company is “in regular communication with authorities, network operators and suppliers in order to be able to implement any necessary measures.”

The interview was reported by Automotive News Europe sister publication Automobilwoche.

On Saturday, Germany’s gas storage facilities were 87.95 percent full, according to the Federal Network Agency.

Duesmann said that if supplies to industry did fail, Audi would have to watch out for production bottlenecks in areas such as the paint shop, which uses a lot of gas, or with the automaker’s suppliers.

Duesmann has previously called for Europe’s automakers to stop using fossil fuels as much as possible.

“Let us be courageous as Europeans and take it upon ourselves to give up on fossil fuels completely from 2040,” Duesmann said in April.

“We must put all our energy towards battery-electric vehicles for individual mobility.”

Audi plans to phase out production of combustion engines by early next decade except in China, as the company accelerates its transition to becoming an electric-only automaker.

Audi was hit by production issues earlier this year due to the war in Ukraine, which forced it to adjust manufacturing operations in Hungary.

Separately, Duesmann also denied that he had sought to succeed Herbert Diess as Volkswagen Group CEO.

“That is nonsense. I rejected that from the outset,” he said. “I am perfectly happy as Audi CEO.”

Duesmann’s name had been mentioned as a possible successor to Herbert Diess. However, VW’s supervisory board chose Oliver Blume, who became VW Group CEO on Sept. 1 while retaining his post as head of the automaker’s Porsche brand.

Duessmann said he was “extremely happy” with the positive development of the Audi brand and the good relationship with the Audi’s works council.

“Works Council Chairman Peter Mosch and I have the same interest: We want to make Audi strong and secure employment,” he said. “Audi is a dream job for me. That is why I came to Audi.”