The automaker has decided not to go EV-only in 2033 as previously announced
- Audi’s CEO has confirmed they will remain flexible in terms of ICE at least for another 7-10 years.
- The decision to end ICE production in 2033 was taken from the previous management.
- Gernot Dolner also said that Audi’s involvement with Formula 1 could inspire future road cars.
Well, that didn’t last long, did it? Audi has officially abandoned the plan to end ICE production in 2033 and will stay “flexible” for the foreseeable future as it keeps a close eye at market conditions. This (admittedly unsurprising) move follows the example of several rival automakers that have already pushed back their EV strategy in favor of a safer multi-pathway approach.
The last new ICE-powered Audi was supposed to debut in 2026, but that is no longer the case. Audi’s CEO, Gernot Dolner, revealed that the company has decided to “extend the production beyond the communicated end dates of the past”, adding that plans about an EV-only future were set by the previous management.
More: We Asked For More Buttons, So Audi’s Q3 Took Away The Stalks
“Audi is launching from 2024-2026 a completely new line-up of internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and that gives us complete flexibility for at least another seven, eight, maybe 10 years, and then we will see how our markets develop”, Dolner told Autocar in a new interview.
The decision to extend ICE production includes future RS models from the Audi Sport division, such as the next-gen RS6 that is expected to feature a plug-in hybrid setup. Furthermore, Dolner believes that Audi’s involvement with Formula 1, could “inspire us to think about road cars of the future”.
In the same context, when asked about the potential of a new R8 or TT, Dollner replied that Audi is “thinking about everything… we are car guys, let yourself be surprised”, although he added it might be “a little too early to talk about that.”
No Entry Level EV
According to Dollner, Audi won’t be making its own version of the VW ID.2, Skoda Epiq, and Cupra Raval siblings that will compete in the small EV segment. Still, he confirmed earlier reports about an A3-sized EV which is currently under development as a standalone offering and will debut in 2026. This means that the A3 and the Q3 will serve as the entry points in the Audi lineup, following the upcoming demise of the smaller A1 and Q2.
Finally, Audi‘s CEO confirmed that the brand will lead development of VW Group’s hardware and software architectures for larger models, including the upcoming Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) that is expected to arrive in 2027 or 2028. The latter was originally envisioned as an EV-only architecture, but it has recently been revealed it will be also compatible with ICE as part of range-extender setups.
#Audis #EVOnly #Dream #Gas #Engines
