Thammer to be new Head of Audi Sales Division in China

Shanghai, May 26 (Gasgoo.com) Johannes Thammer will become the new Managing Director of the Audi Sales Division in China as of June 1, 2008, according to Audi's press release.

The current Head of After Sales and Genuine Parts for Audi will replace Werner Eichhorn, who has been appointed by Volkswagen (VW) as the new head of sales for Germany for Volkswagen Passenger Cars. Bernd Hoffmann, currently Head of Sales Development at AUDI AG, will take over the position vacated by Thammer.

Johannes Thammer has worked worldwide for AUDI AG since 2005 as Head of After Sales and Genuine Parts. Thammer began his career at Audi in 1982 in Chassis Controlling. From 1985 to 1991 Thammer worked for BMW as an executive in product marketing. He held executive positions in Marketing and Sales for AUDI AG between 1991 and 1999. In 2000, he moved to Brussels to become Toyota's Vice President for Product and Sales Planning before returning to Audi in September 2005 to assume the position of Head of After Sales.

Audi is the market leader in China's premium sedan segment. With over 100,000 cars sold during 2007, China is the biggest export market for AUDI AG. But it is also facing increasing pressure from its rivals BMW and Benz, which saw sales increase by 40% and 30% to 51,588 and 23,000 units respectively last year.