BERLIN (Reuters) - German automaker Audi is looking to shrink its workforce in the medium term by cutting jobs outside of production, with thousands of positions at risk, the Manager Magazin reported on Thursday.

The job cuts are to focus on so-called indirect jobs at the company, such as in the area of development, where over 2,000 jobs could go, the report said.

It said the company is targeting a reduction of about 15%. In Germany alone, this would impact 4,500 indirect jobs.

Audi, a subsidiary of struggling auto giant Volkswagen, confirmed to Reuters that the board of management was currently in negotiations with workers' representatives but did not comment on the number of jobs that could be affected.

Audi saw a sharp fall in profit in the third quarter, partly due to high costs associated with the likely closure of its plant in Brussels.

(Reporting by Christina Amann, writing by Rachel More, editing by Thomas Seythal)