HERNDON, VA - Audi signed an agreement with the international consortium "Desertec Industrial Initiative." The long-term goal of the joint venture is the climate-friendly production of electricity in the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. As an associated partner, Audi will initially work to create the right conditions and establish the necessary infrastructure.

Audi is looking to introduce its first small-series electric car to the market as early as 2012. In doing so, Stadler said Audi will not only apply the principles of sustainability to the production of the cars, but also to ensure that customers can sustainably operate the cars.

The Desertec Industrial Initiative is working to develop the right conditions for targeted investment in solar and wind energy on the basis of careful analysis. Today, the Desertec Industrial Initiative is backed by 16 founding companies, the DESERTEC Foundation, and associated partners, who work to support the initiative's objectives.

In its view of the energy balance of its products, Audi AG includes its production processes. Surpassing the common German mix, an above-average percentage of the energy needed for production is fed into Audi AG's plants from renewable sources. Photovoltaic panels on its roofs actively feed green electricity into the German grid. In the future, roughly an additional 14,000 megawatt hours are to be added to this through wind power; the utilization of biogas is also foreseen. The partnership with Desertec now expands this commitment.