In a time when most manufacturers around the globe are cutting back on expansion in the wake of the economic downturn, Audi Australia has officially cut the ribbon on its flagship ‘Lighthouse’ development in Sydney.
While motorists have been able to gawk at the new facility for a few weeks now, the $50 million ‘Lighthouse’ brand terminal on South Dowling Street in Sydney has now officially opened its doors to the public.
Demonstrating the German luxury carmaker’s confidence in the Australian market, Audi says the development of this flagship facility – the largest of its kind in the world – was embraced by the company’s global Board of Directors.
Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, responsible for global sales and marketing, opened the facility earlier today with Audi Australia’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann.
It incorporates a retail showroom for both new and approved pre-owned Audi vehicles, customer facilities including a children’s play area, lifestyle shop, business centre, the Audi CafĂ© Bavaria and an aftersales centre.
Trading as “Audi Centre Sydney”, the building will also become the head office of Audi Australia as the brand prepares to reach 15,000 unit sales locally by the year 2015 at the latest.
The eight-level, 16000+ square metre facility located at Victoria Park was designed by Audi’s master architect, Allmann Sattler Wappner and interpreted for Australia by the renowned Johnson Pilton Walker.