Audi halts A4 and A5 production

A fire at a key supplier has brought Audi’s flagship Ingolstadt production plant to a skidding halt.

Audi has simply run out of the parts it needs to keep building the A4 sedan and wagon and the A5 Coupe, Sportback five-door hatch and the Cabriolet.

While it withstood a similar problem at a plastic finish producer late last year, the Ingolstadt plant was brought down by a crisis at the supplier that makes the cladding for the front firewalls of the cars, Audi said.

At least 8500 of the plant’s 43,000 workers will take most of this week off, with Audi losing out on building at least 5600 cars.

The A4 and A5 ranges will continue to be built at Audi’s neighbouring plant at Neckarsulm, whose supplies were not affected by the fire.