It is 46 centimeters high, weighs twelve kilograms, is hand-crafted from exquisite lead crystal - and the object of any skier's desire. By this weekend, the decision of the winner of the 2010 Audi FIS Ski World Cup who will take the crystal ball home will have been made. In addition, the new format of the Nations Cup will celebrate its debut at the finals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The Audi Group ended the 2009 fiscal year with a clearly positive operating profit and only a slight downturn in vehicle deliveries, despite the major effects of the global financial and economic crisis: ?The operating profit of ?1.6 billion shows that we are among the best in the industry, even under difficult conditions. Our policy of consistently improving our productivity and investing massively in the typical Audi values of design, sportiness, quality and efficiency over the past few years is now paying dividends,? said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG.

The Audi Group ended the 2009 fiscal year with a clearly positive operating profit and only a slight downturn in vehicle deliveries, despite the major effects of the global financial and economic crisis: ?The operating profit of ?1.6 billion shows that we are among the best in the industry, even under difficult conditions. Our policy of consistently improving our productivity and investing massively in the typical Audi values of design, sportiness, quality and efficiency over the past few years is now paying dividends,? said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG.

The Audi Group ended the 2009 fiscal year with a clearly positive operating profit and only a slight downturn in vehicle deliveries, despite the major effects of the global financial and economic crisis: "The operating profit of €1.6 billion shows that we are among the best in the industry, even under difficult conditions. Our policy of consistently improving our productivity and investing massively in the typical Audi values of design, sportiness, quality and efficiency over the past few years is now paying dividends," said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG.

Despite the global economic and financial crisis the Audi Group is able to look back on a successful 2009 ? thanks in part to its responsible, sustainable actions. Specifically values such as tradition, quality and a sense of responsibility have come to enjoy renewed significance in society once again. The Audi 2009 Annual Report, which was published at today?s Annual Press Conference, picks up on this idea. In the magazine section, renowned authors present articles that reflect a new understanding of luxury. In the financial section, strong figures demonstrate how successfully the Audi Group has steered a course through the crisis.

Despite the global economic and financial crisis the Audi Group is able to look back on a successful 2009 - thanks in part to its responsible, sustainable actions. Specifically values such as tradition, quality and a sense of responsibility have come to enjoy renewed significance in society once again. The Audi 2009 Annual Report, which was published at today's Annual Press Conference, picks up on this idea. In the magazine section, renowned authors present articles that reflect a new understanding of luxury. In the financial section, strong figures demonstrate how successfully the Audi Group has steered a course through the crisis.

"We want to thank our team, and not only after record years like 2008," emphasized Dr. Werner Widuckel, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources at AUDI AG, at today's Annual Press Conference. "In addition to an average profit-sharing payment of €2.300, we will therefore be making a special one-off payment of €1.200 to each employee this year. This special bonus rewards the exceptional performance shown by our employees in crisis-hit 2009." Audi has navigated the global crisis better than many of its competitors. "This is also due to the passion and creativity of our team of employees, who tackled nine production start-ups in 2009."

"We want to thank our team, and not only after record years like 2008," emphasized Dr. Werner Widuckel, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources at AUDI AG, at today's Annual Press Conference. "In addition to an average profit-sharing payment of €2.300, we will therefore be making a special one-off payment of €1.200 to each employee this year. This special bonus rewards the exceptional performance shown by our employees in crisis-hit 2009." Audi has navigated the global crisis better than many of its competitors. "This is also due to the passion and creativity of our team of employees, who tackled nine production start-ups in 2009."

AUDI AG reports worldwide sales of around 75.900 automobiles in February. The sales tally for the month is thus 19.9 percent up on February 2009. For the first two months of the year combined, unit sales by the Ingolstadt-based brand showed a rise of 28.7 percent on the prior-year period.

With the delivery of the first customer cars, Audi AG'S GT3 customer sport program has reached the next phase. By mid-April, 20 Audi R8 LMS vehicles will have been handed over to the teams that are planning to run the GT3 race sports car in various national and international racing series and in the two 24-hour races at the Nürburging and at Spa-Francorchamps in the 2010 season.