Audi is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive efficiency, enhance quality, and inspire innovation across the organization. The company is committed to unlocking the full potential of AI and data, both in internal operations and the customer experience through smarter products and services.
AI is currently delivering the greatest impact in production and logistics, helping to reduce costs, save time, and improve operational precision. Gerd Walker, Member of the Board of Management for Production and Logistics, highlights its significance: “AI is a game changer for our industry. By applying it strategically, we’re creating a production environment that is not only more efficient and cost-effective but also meets the highest quality standards while supporting our workforce in the best possible way. That’s why we’re focusing on integrating AI wherever it adds value and scaling up its applications.”
Today, Audi is running over 100 AI-driven projects at various stages of development within its production facilities. These initiatives are steadily being integrated into series production, with a current emphasis on AI-powered quality monitoring and generative AI solutions.
Audi Taps into Massive Production Data to Power AI-Driven Manufacturing
Production at Audi generates the highest volume of data across the company, making it a key area for AI integration. With hundreds of petabytes already stored and thousands of gigabytes being added daily, the potential for data-driven innovation is immense.
To harness this potential, Audi is not only rolling out new AI tools but also strengthening its data infrastructure across operations. Gerd Walker, Member of the Board of Management for Production and Logistics, highlights the strategic advantage: “Artificial intelligence allows us to tap into the vast amount of production data more effectively, accelerating the transformation of our 360factory into a fully data-driven manufacturing environment.”
The 360factory represents Audi’s vision for a connected, innovative, and sustainable production ecosystem—where smart use of data and AI play a central role in shaping the future of automotive manufacturing.
Saving time with generative AI: the “Tender Toucan” project
Audi recently started utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze bids as part of its tendering process. The AI tool called “Tender Toucan” uses a set of specifications to create a list of requirements, searches for the relevant sections in the bids, and evaluates the degree to which they are fulfilled. Employees check and complete the tool’s work but enjoy time savings of up to 30 percent. “Tender Toucan” will be introduced for the series production planning of drivetrains and high-voltage batteries in the summer; a further rollout is planned at Audi and in the Volkswagen Group. The development of “Tender Toucan” also serves as a basis for many other AI applications at Audi.
Quality improvement through AI-supported quality monitoring: the “IRIS” and “WSD” projects
An AI application for image processing has recently been implemented at the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm assembly plants. Called “IRIS”, the tool uses cameras to check whether labels with technical data are correctly attached to the vehicle. More specifically, the label with the right content in the right language must be attached to the right component in the right position. This ensures the conformity of the vehicles. Employees continue to perform spot checks. The “IRIS” label check saves roughly one minute of production time per vehicle.
Audi recently joined forces with Siemens to introduce another AI-supported quality check to series production in the body shop in Neckarsulm. Previously, employees manually inspected the underbody for weld splatter and then removed it. Now the so-called “Weld Splatter Detection” (WSD) application uses AI to detect possible weld splatter on vehicle underbodies. These metal deposits could lead to such things as cable breakages. In a further expansion stage starting in summer 2025, a robotic arm will automatically remove the weld splatter itself. In doing so, the “WSD” AI application not only saves time in production, but also improves occupational safety and ergonomics for employees.
Audi’s strong AI network: the IPAI in Heilbronn
To make the best possible use of artificial intelligence, Audi has built a strong network of experts in the field of artificial intelligence over the past several years. Audi cooperates closely with the IPAI (Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence) in Heilbronn, among others. The IPAI is set to become Europe’s largest AI network and will begin constructing a 23-hectare campus this year. As a member of the Heilbronn-based think tank, Audi will have its own office at the new campus, as it does on the current IPAI site. The Audi Böllinger Höfe site is also located in the immediate vicinity. This Audi location for small series production serves as a real-world laboratory for digital production technologies as part of AI25 (Automotive Initiative 2025), an innovation network for digital transformation in the automotive industry.
