BUDAPEST - The Hungarian unit of Audi, the country's largest exporter, on Wednesday reported a 4.8 percent sales gain in 2003, a year in which the German parent increased its investment to lift production.
Sales rose to 3.72 billion euros ($4.7 billion) from 3.55 billion in 2002.
Audi Hungaria Motor Kft, based in Gyor, western Hungary, is the main engine production facility of Volkswagen's luxury arm and the assembly plant for Audi TT coupes and roadsters.
Parent company Audi said earlier in the day that its net profit rose 5 percent to 816 million euros in 2003 and forecast "stable earnings" for 2004. Audi invested 234 million euros in Hungary last year to boost the unit's production capacity, bringing its total investment to 1.75 billion euros. Audi Hungaria employs more than 5,000 people.
The Gyor plant manufactured 1,334,985 engines in 2003, a 4.3 percent rise year-over-year, while it assembled 32,337 cars, compared with 34,711 in 2002, Audi said.
