Your R8 will need to be picked up at the dealership just like everyone else.
Audi had a difficult year in 2018. According to a press release, Audi blamed “inventory problems” for a 16 percent decrease in December sales year-over-year. Audi’s 2018 sales declined by 1.4 percent. It is not a large loss, but it was a significant one. It is not known if this was a factor in Audi’s decision to end its European Delivery program. However, new Audi owners who are looking forward to getting their car in Germany in the future will need to make other plans.
What exactly is this program? This program was an option for new Audi owners in the U.S., which basically included a European vacation. The automaker would pay for a hotel stay and factory tour at Neckarsulm and Ingolstadt. There would also be some free food and a VIP experience that included the opportunity to see your newly ordered Audi.
Audi will also offer two weeks of insurance and a substantial discount on the purchase price. This allows you to drive your new car around Europe while taking in sights. You would drop your car off at any of the locations along the way. The boat would then take you across the pond to arrive at your dealership.
Audi confirmed with Motor1.com the program ended at the end 2018. They cited “recent changes to the distribution process, and the manufacturing of key Audi model outside Ingolstadt/Neckarsulm” for the reason. However, a company spokesperson reminded us that the Audi Driving Experience at Circuit of the Americas, Texas, remains an option for Audi owners looking for a unique event.
These delivery programs, which offer small MSRP discounts, are quite common among European automakers. BMW will assist you in planning your entire vacation, with the help of a full-service travel agency. Porsche promises an authentic VIP experience, with factory tours and a one-night hotel stay. Mercedes-Benz offers even more by slashing the MSRP up to 7 percent and giving away a $200 airline coupon, factory tours, and insurance. Volvo also gets in on it with two round-trip tickets from the USA to Scandinavia and many other perks.
It will be interesting for Audi to bring back the neat-o service or if other Euro-based automobile manufacturers follow their lead and discontinue the specialized service.