#neckarsulm

The first of 333 limited edition Audi R8 GTs was delivered to its rightful owner in the UK this week. Sporting 560-hp, the Audi R8 GT has already been accounted for by future owners in 23 different countries. The first one to hit the streets however will be a Phantom Black R8 GT and we’re hoping it won’t be one of those that end up on our blog wrecked and demolished.

Audi has just announced that due to reduced demand the automaker will cut workers’ hours for six days in February. From the 20th to 27th of February 25,000 workers will be effected at the Audi plants at Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, Germany.

Dr. Werner Widuckel, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources at Audi said that the reduction in hours will mean that no layoffs will occur and that the company has long term goals in mind that will not be sidetracked by short term economic instability.

The reduction in work hours comes as somewhat of a surprise considering Audi has consistently boasted the achievement of key corporate goals in 2008, including an increase in market share and an overall sales volume of one million vehicles – the first time Audi has ever broken the one million unit barrier.

According to Audi’s report, the company is not expecting any other such hour decreases and actually expects a busy production year with the launch of six all-new models.

Official release after the jump: