Despite Europe's doubts about phasing out the technology, Audi didn't see a need to make any changes to its strategy, as sales of electric cars increased by 44% in 2022. Therefore, the brand of Ingolstadt has confirmed plans to produce only new electric vehicles starting in 2026.
During the annual press conference, Audi unveiled a plan to launch 20 new electric car models by 2025, including a new battery entry level. Of these, 10 models will be exclusively electric propulsion. Furthermore, the arrival of a new EV model positioned below the Q4 e-tron was announced, with an estimated length of 4.2 meters and a price lower than the €56,000 of the Q4.
--> The Ingolstadt-based brand has adopted an even numbering system for all of its electric cars, a process that began with the Q4 e-tron and has been extended to the Q8 e-tron. Furthermore, in the second half of 2023, Audi will launch the Q6 e-tron, the first model based on the PPE platform.
During this same conference, Markus Duesmann, the CEO of Audi, highlighted the challenges that the automotive sector faced in 2022 due to the consequences of the war and the energy crisis. Despite this, Audi saw a 1.9% increase in sales in Europe including the Bentley, Lamborghini and Ducati brands. However, results were not as positive in the US (-2.5%) and China (-7.8%) due to logistics issues, shortage of microchips and lockdowns in China.
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For 2023, the company expects to increase global registrations from 1.64 million to 1.8 million. In addition, there is news on the dealership front, where in some markets you could see Audi and Ducati models being sold in the same showroom.
The German brand has also announced its intention to focus on the evolution of battery technology in order to improve the range and recharging of its electric vehicles; is planning to launch the first solid-state cell car in 2025, which promises a driving range of more than 800 kilometers on a single charge.
--> As for the design, Audi has unveiled a preview of the new stylistic language that will characterize its future electric cars, called Sphere. The first model to adopt this style will be the Audi A9 e-tron, expected for 2026.
Sustainability is also at the center of the brand's attention, as demonstrated by having declared the goal of reducing 30% CO2 emissions per vehicle by 2025 and to become a carbon neutral company by 2050.
To achieve these goals, Audi has also decided to invest in the production of renewable energy, with the aim to cover 70% of its energy needs with renewable sources by 2025.