Audi wants to join CSI elite
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LAS VEGAS -- Audi of America COO Mark Del Rosso challenged dealers here to keep making store and process improvements to raise Audi's customer satisfaction scores into the top three among luxury brands.
Audi placed 10th last year among luxury carmakers on J.D. Power and Associates' U.S. Customer Service Index. The top three were Lexus, Jaguar and Cadillac.
"This is clearly an area of focus and challenge for us," Del Rosso said after presiding over the Audi make meeting.
Ken Garff Porsche-Audi-VW has a $2 million facility renovation under way to continue sales and profit momentum built on attractive new products, said Tony Kraatz, executive director of business development at the dealership. Products such as the Q5 and Q7 SUVs, for example, are in short supply.
"Audi is happy with the dealers, and we're willing to invest," Kraatz said.
He said he was heartened that Audi intended to rely on its current 275 dealerships to push toward an annual U.S. sales goal of 200,000 vehicles by 2018. The company posted record U.S. sales in 2011 of 117,561 vehicles.
Del Rosso said Audi would possibly add only "a handful" of dealers in the foreseeable future to allow current dealers to increase volumes and profits.
I. Bradley Hoffman, co-chairman of Hoffman Auto Group of East Hartford, Conn., said dealers give Audi high marks for its products and support.
Said Hoffman: "We're very happy with the manufacturer."
• Few new stores planned
• Sales goal: Nearly double by 2018, to 200,000
You can reach David Barkholz at dbarkholz@crain.com. -- Follow David on 
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