Audi is poised to witness a minor uptick in sales this year as it prepares for a more substantial surge in 2024 with its ambitious electric vehicle (EV) lineup, according to remarks made by the company’s sales chief, Hildegard Wortmann, at the IAA mobility show in Munich.
While acknowledging the impending boost, Wortmann cautioned, “It won’t be the big leap yet in 2023. We need a little more time for that.” Audi is diligently striving to catch up with its German competitors, BMW and Mercedes, in the transition to electric mobility.
Audi currently offers fewer electric models compared to its rivals. While Audi’s three fully-electric models recorded a commendable 50% growth in sales during the first half of 2023, BMW and Mercedes posted more than double-digit growth figures, significantly outpacing Audi in EV sales.
However, Audi has an ambitious roadmap ahead, with plans to introduce approximately 20 new models over the next two years, with half of them being electric. The first of these eagerly anticipated models is the electric version of the Q6, making its debut at the Munich car show.
Despite these plans, Audi has faced challenges in the Chinese market. Nevertheless, the company is banking on a collaboration with Chinese carmaker SAIC to revitalize its presence. Wortmann noted that Audi achieved modest growth of approximately 2% in China during the first half of the year, emphasizing that it’s still too early to predict the carmaker’s overall performance in the Chinese market for 2023.
“I’m sure we can hold our ground there,” Wortmann expressed confidently, reflecting Audi’s determination to regain momentum in one of the world’s largest automotive markets.
