100 Years of Audi 2009Premieres and prominent guests at the big Audi jubilee

At the evening gala in the Audi Forum, 1,800 invited guests witnessed a spectacular programme of outdoor celebrations. Television presenter Thomas Gottschalk hosted the event and key highlights included a speech by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the unveiling of the new Audi A5 Sportback and the first performance by Chinese star pianist Lang Lang on the Audi Design grand piano.

Rupert Stadler, Board Chairman of AUDI AG, greeted many celebrity guests at the jubilee celebration including State Prime Ministers Horst Seehofer, Christian Wulff and Günther Oettinger, VDA President Matthias Wissmann, basketball star Dirk Nowitzki, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge from FC Bayern Munich soccer club and motor racing legends such as Jacky Ickx, Walter Röhrl, Hans-Joachim Stuck and eight-time Le Mans champion Tom Kristensen.

In summarizing the history of Audi, Rupert Stadler concluded that pioneering spirit and far-sighted vision have enabled the brand to win through and establish its strong market position moving forward into the next decade. With an eye to the future he declared: “We shall increase our technological leadership still further.”

The gala evening was the start of an entire week of celebrations. Audi Tradition brought almost every Audi car that ever raced to the Danube Ring, while a concert of classical music attracted listeners to the Klenze Park in Ingolstadt.