Audi new entries for 2012 model year: A6, A7, A8 L W12, TT RS and R8 GT

Audi of America, Inc. today introduced its 2012 model year lineup led by five new models.

Following the launch of the award-winning Audi A8 flagship model, the brand introduces the pinnacle of the A8 model line with the new A8 L W12. The powerful 12-cylinder engine accelerates with ease and offers incredible refinement. The interior provides an unmistakable experience for rear-seat passengers through executive seating and impressive technology for the progressive business owner or executive.

The all-new, beautifully designed A7 defines a new category of luxury vehicle through its coupe roofline and functional rear hatch. The distinctive design, technology and balanced performance of the new A6 invigorates the mid-sized luxury sedan segment. The Audi A8 and Q7 are updated with the available Audi connect system, which provides the 3D terrain and topology of Google Earth™, Google™ Local Search and a Wi-Fi® hotspot for up to eight passenger devices. The arrival of the unmistakable Audi TT RS signifies the re-launch of RS performance models for the Audi brand in the U.S., while the R8 GT captivates collectors and enthusiasts alike. Several other models have received option package changes designed to provide greater value.

| Audi

Audi and San Francisco Mayor Lee and Union Square Business Improvement District inaugurate Powell Street Promenade

Audi of America joined San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and formally opened Powell Street Promenade — a new and innovative pedestrian space in the heart of San Francisco’s downtown as part of a partnership between the City & County of San Francisco, and the Union Square Business Improvement District (BID).

The Powell Street Promenade has transformed two blocks between Ellis and Geary Streets, along the famed Powell Street cable car line, addressing overcrowding by creating an enjoyable public space to eat, chat and relax. It also provides visitors and residents with a comfortable place to plan their visit out of the bustle of the corridor. This vibrant pedestrian corridor is one of the busiest in the nation and is typically traveled by more than 100,000 people on an average weekend. The Powell Street Promenade is the largest ‘Parklet’ installation in the City.



“Audi is taking its passion for efficiency and sustainability even further with its involvement in the revitalization of Powell Street in San Francisco,” said Scott Keogh, Chief Marketing Officer for Audi of America. “This is an exciting and important project for the people of San Francisco and as a global hub of art and aesthetic, it seemed only natural that Audi – who remains steadfast in its commitment to progressive design and innovation – partner with the City of San Francisco to re-imagine this iconic area.”

Audi of America partnered with the City & County of San Francisco and the Union Square BID to provide the necessary funds and guidance on the cutting-edge and modern design of the Powell Street Promenade. Designed by Walter Hood of Hood Design Studio, the overall aesthetic of the promenade is guided by a forward-thinking, people-friendly, environmentally-conscious philosophy. By repurposing the on-street loading lanes along these two blocks of Powell Street, the Promenade provides six additional feet of continuous pedestrian space and adds amenities such as custom designed aluminum benches, planters, tables, rails, landscaping, bike parking, and other pedestrian-friendly features. Low-energy Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lights will illuminate the space through power collected from solar panels. All landscaping is drought tolerant and materials used are designed to be long-lasting and reusable. People utilizing this Promenade will also have access to free Wi-Fi; which was installed as part of the project. Audi used the same principles that define the brand’s innovative approach to car making throughout this process. The Union Square BID will maintain the Promenade and keep it clean and activated.

Additional details can be found at www.progressonpowell.com. Audi and its San Francisco advertising agency Venables Bell & Partners worked closely to bring the project to life.

| Audi

New TomTom Custom Area Analysis

Today TomTom launches Custom Area Analysis, an important historical traffic product which gives customers access to highly granular speed and bottleneck information for road networks around the world. The product supports traffic modeling and analysis of road conditions and traffic performance. By providing a complete view of what is happening across the global road network, Custom Area Analysis enables enterprises and governments to better understand and more efficiently manage their local areas.

TomTom is continuously proving its ability to innovate and the most recent example is the addition of Custom Area Analysis to our traffic portfolio,” said Dan Adams, Vice President of Product Development for TomTom Licensing. “By providing actual driven travel times and speeds for roads globally, Custom Area Analysis supports government and enterprise partners as they develop solutions that help optimize performance on road networks.”


Leveraging TomTom’s ever-expanding database of more than 4 trillion anonymously collected data points, the Custom Area Analysis product features include:

- Broad coverage: Actual speed and travel time information available for highways and secondary roads globally
- Detailed granularity: Road segments ranging from a few meters to several kilometers, at any hour of the day and any period of time
- Significant sample size: Reliable data leads to confident decisions
- Easy to access: Access data and run reports via the Traffic Stats web portal, reducing the need for additional equipment or field surveys.

Custom Area Analysis joins a robust and innovative suite of traffic products designed to enable customers in enterprise, government, hardware and wireless markets develop solutions to make better use of road networks worldwide. Key TomTom traffic products include Custom Travel Times, Enterprise Traffic, HD Flow, HD Route Times and Speed Profiles*.

TomTom plans to expand its traffic product portfolio with new historical traffic products and new geographic coverage available for real time traffic products. These advancements will underscore the company’s commitment to delivering value to its industry partners.

Availability
Custom Area Analysis offers global coverage and is accessible via the TomTom Traffic Stats web portal at http://trafficstats.tomtom.com. For further information about TomTom traffic products for industry partners, visit: http://www.tomtom.com/landing_pages/traffic_solutions/web/index.php

| TomTom | Image: Jaguar

More flexibility for Scania

Scania has signed an agreement with the Swedish Metal Workers’ Union at Scania as part of the company’s efforts to boost flexibility at the production units in Sweden. The agreement regulates flexible working time and flexible staffing so that Scania can adapt human resources to fluctuations in demand. Both Scania and the Swedish Metal Workers’ Union at Scania are in agreement that a long-term sustainable solution is required in order to ensure flexibility.

“The agreement will play an important part in our future ability to meet rapid changes in demand. It enhances our long-term ability to retain core competence at our production units,” says Anders Nielsen, Executive Vice President and Head of Production and Logistics at Scania.


For a long time, Scania has worked on boosting flexibility in production by using various methods. The new agreement means that the time bank system will continue in essentially the same way. The time bank system enables compensation to an employee to be held at a stable level, while he or she works more hours when demand is high and fewer hours when demand is low.

Scania also ensures flexibility through agreements on fixed term temporary employment. Current fixed term temporary contracts will remain in force under the existing agreement. After these contracts have expired, the new agreement aims to ensure that the bulk of flexible staffing will consist of personnel from staffing companies. The parties agree that the proportion of flexible staffing should not exceed 30 percent of the total number of production employees.

“My view is that Scania’s employees will gain greater security in the long run if everyone has permanent employment. We are also adding rules and regulations relating to flexible staffing. In addition, extra personnel on hire will gain a good pathway into Scania, since we will primarily use staffing companies to fill our vacancies,” says Johan Järvklo, Chairman of the Swedish Metal Workers’ Union at Scania in Södertälje.

The agreement enters into force on 1 September 2011 and replaces the existing agreements on flexible working hours at Scania (SFW) and temporary employment. It does not cover employees working today under fixed term temporary contracts at Scania – instead their agreements will remain in force as previously.

| Scania