Audi will cease production at its Brussels plant on Feb. 28, closing a facility that has operated for 76 years and built more than eight million vehicles. The last Q8 e-tron will roll off the assembly line, symbolizing broader changes in the European automotive sector ahead of the EU Commissionās upcoming action plan.
The closure, first announced last year, will result in the loss of 3,000 jobs. A social plan was negotiated, but tensions between the company and trade unions over severance terms led to temporary production halts. Audi briefly restarted operations, but only for final production runs before shutting down permanently.
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Originally, Audi had planned to build the next-generation Q8 e-tron in Mexico from 2027. However, due to a decline in global demand for premium electric vehicles, the automaker decided to end Q8 e-tron production earlier than expected. Efforts to find alternative buyers or uses for the Brussels site were unsuccessful.
Audi invested ā¬600 million in the plant to support electric vehicle production, beginning with the e-tron quattro in 2018. The facility was later adapted for overflow production of the Q4 e-tron, but lower-than-expected sales and structural cost challenges made continued operations unfeasible. The plant’s location, bordered by residential areas and railway tracks, limited expansion and added logistical costs.
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The Brussels closure underscores the shifting landscape of the European car industry, where legacy manufacturers face mounting competition from new entrants with leaner production models. The transition to electric vehicles is accelerating, and the pace of adaptation remains a key challenge. The EU Commission is set to unveil its action plan in early March, aiming to bolster the regionās automotive sector amid global industry shifts.
Source: 7sur7.be