VWoA Compliance
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Sent:
Subject:

Audi Communications
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 6:30 AM
Supplemental Maintenance Services

July 23, 2014
Read
if Red

DEALER
PRIN

GENERAL
MGR

From: Audi After Sales

SALES
MGR

CPO
MGR

SERVICE
MGR

Action Required: No

PARTS
MGR

WARRANTY
MGR

F&I
MGR

Deadline: N/A

Supplemental Maintenance Services
Audi has seen tremendous vehicle sales growth over the last several years with many new buyers to the
Audi brand. We want to ensure that new owners, as well as brand loyalists, are satisfied during their
ownership experience and look to Audi for their future vehicle needs. Studies have shown that one of the
top reasons consumers avoid or abandon the Audi brand is the cost of ownership, specifically the cost of
vehicle maintenance. Unfortunately, many Audi dealerships have chosen to sell and advertise
“supplementary services” such as fluid flushes, installing additives, and recommending more frequent
maintenance intervals than necessary in order to build service and parts gross profit.
Please be advised that Audi of America does not recommend or condone “Supplemental Services”
unless expressly approved in a Technical Service Bulletin or the Factory-Approved Maintenance
Schedule / Recommendations.
There are several reasons why promoting supplemental services and more frequent maintenance, above
and beyond the factory requirements, are not recommended:
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Dealer recommending services and flushes not covered by the Audi maintenance manual creates
customer confusion and dissatisfaction
Selling unnecessary “supplemental services” only increases the customer’s cost of ownership
The claimed benefits of these products have not been tested or verified by Audi, and are not
required to maintain our vehicles
Fluids, chemicals, solvents, and additives used in some flushing operations may not be
compatible with Audi products and may, in fact, cause damage to the customer’s vehicles
Accelerated fluid change intervals and the use of flushing solvents do nothing to improve the
longevity or reliability of Audi vehicles and increases the dealership’s waste stream volume and is
environmentally irresponsible
The Audi New Vehicle Limited Warranty and Powertrain Limited Warranty does NOT cover
component damage resulting from unauthorized “Supplemental Services”

If other services are offered, please distinguish between Audi or Factory-Approved Maintenance AND
Dealer-Recommended Supplemental Services and Flushes.

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Additionally, we would like to encourage you to only use the direct mail or email communications that are
available on the Audi After Sales Marketing Operations Center (MOC). The MOC materials:
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Have been approved by Audi Legal
Meet Audi brand creative guidelines
Are pre-approved for co-op eligibility
Provide Audi-approved offers with the proper disclaimer information

If your dealership presently sells supplemental services as described above, we urge you to reconsider your
business approach, and, if necessary, realign your processes.
If you have any questions concerning this communication or the factory-recommended maintenance
schedule, please direct them to your Audi After Sales Manager (AASM).

# of ATTACHMENT(S): 0

Please share this information with your dealer colleagues, as necessary.

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