Audi raises 2015 sales goal after record 2006

Audi increased its sales target for 2015 to 1.5 million vehicles from 1.4 million after posting its 11th consecutive year of record results in 2006.

Net profit rose 63 percent last year to $1.77 billion (1.34 billion euros) on revenue up 17 percent to $41.18 billion (31.14 billion euros). It aimed to boost unit sales, revenue and earnings in 2007 and the years ahead, it said at a news conference today.

Pretax profit rose 49 percent to $2.58 billion (1.95 billion euros) for a margin of 6.2 percent of sales versus 4.9 percent a year ago. Its return on capital advanced to 14.2 percent from 9.7 percent, easily beating Audi's goal of at least a 10 percent yield.

Audi said it expected annual unit sales to surpass 1 million by the end of 2008. It sold 905,188 units in 2006.