Audi-Boss Gernot Döllner (56) strengthens his position. According to a report in the “Bild” newspaper, the supervisory board will soon decide that head of development Oliver Hoffmann must resign from his position. Hoffmann should lead the Audi Formula 1 team in the future. According to information from manager magazin, Döllner wants to take over the development department himself. An Audi spokeswoman said the company does not comment on speculation.
Hoffmann has long been one of a small group of Audi board members who are criticized by Döllner
. Audi has had to repeatedly postpone the introduction of new models in recent months; In March, after years of delay, the Q6 e-tron will be presented, marking the start of the widely announced product offensive. They are primarily responsible for the delays Problems at the software subsidiary Cariad
. But Hoffmann was also considered ailing.
Audi is ostensibly doing well with annual sales for 2023 of a good 65 billion euros and an operating profit of around 5 billion euros. But Döllner is facing a whole series of major construction sites; Audi is now perhaps the VW Group’s biggest problem.
With his harsh manner, the new boss alienated many of his managers shortly after taking office. Just last week Döllner had replaced the long-standing Audi design boss Marc Lichte (54) and replaced Massimo Frascella as his successor Jaguar Land Rover fetched.