Audi has abandoned its 2033 deadline for phasing out internal combustion engines, marking a significant reversal of the German manufacturer's previous electrification strategy.
The German brand announced its intention to invest around €28billion (£23.9billion) in its goal of investing in electric vehicles.
Two-thirds of this investment is scheduled to be spent between 2023 and 2027 for the "future fields of electrification and digitalisation".
Chief executive Gernot Döllner told Autocar that the company no longer has a fixed date for ending the development and sale of internal combustion engine vehicles.
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Audi announced changes to its plans to phase out petrol and diesel engines
AUDI
The luxury carmaker had originally planned to halt combustion engine development next year.
"I had not been the one to communicate the end date," Döllner said, referring to the decision made by the previous management regime.
He confirmed he had reversed the policy because he "believes in flexibility", a stance that extends to Audi's high-performance RS models.
The company is now preparing to launch an entirely new range of internal combustion and plug-in hybrid vehicles between 2024 and 2026, according to Döllner.
"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," the CEO stated.
He added: "We have already decided to extend the production beyond the communicated end dates of the past."
The reversal affects Audi's entire range, including plans that would have seen no new ICE cars launched after 2026.
The CEO emphasised that the fresh line-up provides the company with operational flexibility for "at least another seven, eight, maybe 10 years", after which market conditions will determine future direction.
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This reversal comes as Audi restructures its model range, with no replacement planned for the A1 and Q2. The Q3 and A3 will become entry-level offerings, while the A8 remains the flagship saloon and the Q7 and Q8 top the SUV range, with a potential Q9 under consideration.
Döllner also confirmed that Audi will spearhead the development of all Volkswagen Group hardware and software architectures for larger vehicles, essentially anything from A5-sized models upwards.
This includes the next-generation SSP platform that will introduce 'software-defined vehicles' to the Group for the first time.
The project involves collaboration with Rivian, in which VW Group has invested, with the first Audis built on the SSP platform expected to reach the market in late 2027 or 2028.
Audi is the fifth best-sellign brand in the UK this year
AUDI
An all-electric A3-sized model remains in development for 2026 as an additional offering, though Audi has no plans to create its own version of the Volkswagen ID 2/Skoda Epiq/Cupra Raval entry-level electric car.
So far this year, Audi has sold 43,914 new cars in the UK, making it the fifth best-selling brand behind Volkswagen, BMW, Kia and Ford.
While it has an impressive 5.16 per cent of the market share, it has seen a 17.75 per cent drop in new registrations compared to the same time last year.
In May, it saw a 24 per cent fall in new registrations compared to 12 months ago, even though the German brand sold 8,091 new vehicles, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
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