• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, October 27, 2014

Audi of America has named AKQA digital agency of record after a competitive review. San Francisco-based AKQA will continue its work on AudiUSA.com, Progressive Retail, online marketing and innovation. Audi initially named AKQA its digital agency of record in early 2011.

"Over the course of our partnership, AKQA has delivered exceptional and award-winning digital campaigns for Audi. They have pushed the boundaries of innovation through online marketing and content development and we're looking forward to continued great success," said Mark Del Rosso, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Audi of America.

"The collaboration between Audi and AKQA has consistently delivered pioneering innovation with industry-leading performance," said Simon Jefferson, managing director, AKQA. "We're honored and delighted to continue our partnership as it provides the framework to increase the Audi lead with the most advanced digital experiences that stimulate and inspire drivers."

Notable work to date has included the complete redesign of AudiUSA.com, which allowed Audi to be one of the first automotive manufacturers to take advantage of next-generation browsing, searching and car configuration. Audi was also the first to launch an in-depth dealer inventory search, which enables customers to instantly locate new and Certified pre-owned vehicles at local Audi dealers across the country. This was the first time such an impressive functionality was available on a national site for a premium automotive brand in the U.S., according to the company.

The site also debuted a new Audi configurator, which allows people to build their ideal vehicles. The new Audi site was also one of the first to introduce responsive and adaptive design, improving the site experience across every screen.