Audi A8 Limo for Politicians, Royalty and Business Leaders

Press Release

Audi provides the vehicles and assures servicing for an event such as an EU summit, and takes charge of transporting the cars to and from the event venue. The organisers are responsible for the cost of the drivers, the fuel and any parking or garage costs. "We insist on an exclusive agreement," explains Hagemeister. This means for example that the French President Jacques Chirac and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair will both arrive in an Audi. Audi was first deployed at EU level during Germany's tenure of the presidency in 1994. The list of events at which Audi has provided a chauffeur service is now as lengthy as it is illustrious. Here are just a few examples: as well as numerous state visits, Audi has been in action at all events during the EU presidencies of Germany, Portugal, Spain and currently Denmark, at various ministers' and OSCE conferences, NATO summits, G7/G8 World Economic Summits (Cologne and Genoa) and bilateral Franco-German consultations. The Ingolstadt-based vehicle manufacturer has in addition acted as mobility provider during the Pope's visit to Hungary, at the World Economic Forums in Davos, and at political party conferences, royal weddings in Spain and Belgium, high-ranking doctors' congresses, the Salzburg Festival, the film festivals in Cannes, London and Paris, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, concerts starring the "Three Tenors" and Herbert Gr??????????????????nemeyer, the World Architecture Congress in Berlin, the Kiel Regatta and countless major corporate events. .../3 An immense amount of effort goes into preparing the chauffeur service for such events. According to Hagemeister, more than two years may elapse between initial contacts, e.g. with the government departments in question, and the actual event. The intervening period is peppered with negotiations and consultative, coordinating and planning meetings. Because when it comes to the actual event, the organisation has to be perfect, security correspondingly tight and the entire proceedings scrupulously calculated. Nothing is left to chance: this supporting service has to be as impressive as the products themselves. This is why Audi has a policy of taking on no more than ten events of this size each year, on top of its involvement at meetings hosted by the EU President. Hagemeister elucidates: "We actually receive around 100 enquiries each year." The "fleet" of the Audi vehicles which make up the Limousine Service comprises 100 conventional long-wheelbase Audi A8 cars and 20 armour-plated versions of the A8. The fleet is currently being updated, and the new Audi A8 is due to be in operation at the NATO Summit in Prague. The entire fleet is in action at major events. And if need be, Audi can supply additional luxury limousines. The central fleet depot is a large, high-security hall near Ingolstadt. The vehicles are transferred from there to the event venue by truck or, if need be, by ship or aircraft if they are destined for overseas. At foreign venues, Audi's local importer takes charge of organisational matters, always hand in hand with the head office in Ingolstadt. By way of a supporting service, an entire fleet of VW Caravelle minibuses is also available. Audi cooperates closely with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to provide these. "This ensures that the group in the wider sense establishes its presence at such events," adds Hagemeister. In the run-up to the event, the drivers selected by the organiser are put through an intensive driving and safety training course by professional Audi instructors and familiarised with the Audi models. Hagemeister explains: "This aspect is of fundamental importance. After all, the drivers need to be in perfect control of their vehicle in order to respond correctly in hazardous situations and keep their VIP passengers safe."