Audi Q3 to be built in Spain
April 23, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Audi has today announced that, for now at least, it will not produce its Q3 compact SUV in the US as first planned. Instead the decision has been made to built the all-new vehicle in Spain.
Audi says the decision will not affect Volkswagen’s plans to open a US plant to build VW-branded sedans in 2011.
Due to the importance of SUVs in the US car market, Audi rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz manufacture those models at plants in the southern United States.
Earlier this week, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen said Audi could buy an existing plant in the US or build a new one, or use sister brand Volkswagen’s Tennessee plant due to open in 2011 if the need arose to build SUVs locally in the future.
But first Audi has to get closer to its announced goal of 200,000 annual US sales by 2018 before it needs North American production.
Audi said on Wednesday that it will build its new Q3 SUV in Seat’s plant in Martorell, Spain starting in 2011. The plant will produce around 80,000 Q3s per year.
Print it: 
Spain is really becoming the auto hub of Europe!
Spain has one (if not the) lowest wages in any EU country so it not surprise really. It also has one of the highest unemployment rates so it is probably getting some sort of tax incentive. These incentives are supposed to be a no-no in EU countries but they do happen. Quality would probably be better than the “we don’t give a stuff” Americans as well.
Has anyone driven a Skoda? whats the reliability of Spanish cars compared to German or Italian cars?
Oops, I mean SEAT cars. not SKODA.
gearboxdawg
Dunno about Seats, but try D44 Navara’s and (I think) SB Barina’s. Robots don’t care what country they are in.
Haha! Funny Frontman!
If the car was built in the United States of America, would have the buid quality of the car been quite poor or lets say below Audi’s exceptional quality level? Or not really because anywhere, where the factory is it wouldn’t matter because of Audi’s tough rules and standards? Or something like that?
Aren’t BMW X5’s or Merc M Class built in the states. I vaguely remember the early ones having quality issues but were resolved eventually.
Cupid, yes the X5 and ML are made in America. The ML had major quality problems in it’s first generation but I think the X5 was alright. No problems now though. Two of the best built SUVs on the market.
Gearboxdawg, I have driven Seats and they’re good cars. They seem to be good quality and the reliability is good thanks to the Volkswagen components. They are a touch unremarkable but Spanish build and reliability seems fine. Besides, I’m sure Audi will train their workers well and have high quality standards.
Makes me want to buy one even more now!
Wow this is just great and really like it better than that of the Q7 and Q5 I really could see myself driving one of those one day :)