by Audi Abandons Plans for a Full Switch to Electric Vehicles by 2033
Audi has officially abandoned its plans to transition completely to electric vehicle production by 2033. According to the company’s CEO, Gernot Döllner, the brand will remain “flexible” regarding the use of internal combustion engines (ICE) for at least another 7-10 years. This decision was made by the new management, as the previous plans were associated with the former team.
Döllner noted that from 2024 to 2026, Audi will introduce an entire line of new models with ICE and hybrid powertrains. This will give the company the ability to adapt to market conditions. He also emphasized that Audi’s participation in Formula 1 could inspire the development of future road cars.
“Audi is launching from 2024 to 2026 a completely new line of cars with internal combustion engines and plug-in hybrids, giving us full flexibility for at least another 7-10 years”
Future Models and Strategy
The company will continue production of its RS sports models, including the next generation RS5 with a hybrid powertrain. However, Audi does not plan to create its own version of a small electric car like the Volkswagen ID.2, leaving the A3 and Q3 as the most accessible models in the lineup after the discontinuation of the A1 and Q2.
Additionally, Audi will be responsible for developing hardware and software platforms for larger Volkswagen Group models, including the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), which, unlike initial plans, will support not only electric vehicles but also ICEs as range-extenders.
Audi’s decision reflects a general trend among automakers, who are becoming more cautious about a full transition to electric vehicles. Given the unpredictability of the market and the varying paces of infrastructure development in different countries, a “multi-approach” strategy is becoming increasingly common. At the same time, the company continues to invest in electrification, preparing a new model the size of an A3, but on its own platform, by 2026.
