Audi has announced that its new entry-level electric model, first announced approximately a year ago, will be produced at its headquarters in Ingolstadt. Gernot Döllner, Head of Audi, revealed this information during a staff meeting at the main plant. This new electric vehicle (EV) will be positioned below the Q4 e-tron in Audi’s electric lineup.
The Q6 e-tron, the first model based on Audi’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE), is already in production at the main plant and is set to be unveiled on March 18. Additionally, the A6 e-tron, Audi’s first electric saloon, will also be produced in Ingolstadt on the PPE platform.
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Döllner emphasized the significance of these new electric models, stating, “With the Q6 e-tron and A6 e-tron family, e-mobility is coming from Ingolstadt for the first time this year. The Q6 e-tron based on the new Premium Platform Electric is Audi’s next technological leap for electric mobility. In the medium term, we will also produce another purely electric model at the site.”
From 2028, Audi’s main plant will exclusively manufacture electric cars, aligning with the company’s commitment to electric mobility. Details about the entry-level electric model are still scarce. Döllner’s predecessor, Markus Duesmann, had confirmed plans for a new model below the Q4 e-tron in March 2023. However, Döllner’s recent statement sheds light on the future of this model, which had been uncertain until now.
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According to reports, Audi’s new entry-level electric model will be positioned in the compact segment and have dimensions similar to the current Audi A3. It will utilize Volkswagen’s MEB modular system, which also underpins the previous electric entry-level Q4 e-tron.
The choice of the MEB platform suggests a potential early market launch, as waiting for the VW Group’s upcoming SSP platform could delay the compact electric car. The new model will not carry the “3” code, as Audi’s new numeric nomenclature reserves odd numbers for combustion models and even numbers for electric models. Considering the Q4 e-tron is already designated as the “4” in the mid-size class, the compact model is likely to be launched as the Audi A2 e-tron or the Q2 e-tron, focusing on an SUV variant.
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Details about the “new body concept” for the entry-level electric model are still unclear, but it is expected to offer increased utility value compared to its combustion-powered counterparts. Audi’s move towards electric mobility underscores its commitment to sustainable transportation solutions and the evolution of its product lineup to meet the demands of a changing market.
