Audi is set to introduce a new entry-level electric model below the Q4 e-tron in 2027, aiming for an accelerated development time of around three years to compete against Chinese rivals. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner stated that the compact model will be a “wonderful, unique independent vehicle concept, produced in Ingolstadt,” promising an exciting addition to the lineup.
While details about the vehicle are scarce, Döllner did not rule out the possibility of it being based on the MEB platform. He mentioned, “the final decision on which platform we will use has not yet been made.” The PPE platform, which debuts in the Q6 e-tron, is intended for larger models, making it likely too expensive for a compact model. The VW Group’s upcoming SSP platform, expected around 2027, could be an alternative, though its feasibility remains unclear.
Döllner dismissed the idea of an electric successor to the A1 model but confirmed that the new entry-level electric model will serve as the replacement, possibly marketed as the A2 e-tron or Q2 e-tron, depending on its design.
In a strategic move, Döllner plans to reorganize Audi’s management structure, giving more autonomy to the heads of model series. This shift aims to foster “more entrepreneurship” within the company, with model series managed as “companies within the company.” The Board of Management will focus more on strategic decisions, relinquishing operational competences to the model series heads.
