Audi is the latest automaker to share its plan on going fully electric and it is a bold one. The German company is phasing out internal combustion engine vehicles completely by 2033. More urgently, Audi will only make new electric models from 2026, just five years from now.
Audi doesn’t want to wait for EU’s bans to transition, as explained by the CEO, Markus Duesman: “I don’t believe in the success of bans. I believe in the success of technology and innovation. With this roadmap, we are creating the clarity necessary to make a decisive and powerful transition to the electric age. We’re sending the signal that Audi is ready.”
With the electrification blueprint released by Audi, a barrage of more than 20 emission free models is coming before 2025. This has started already as the company is launching more electric models than diesel or petrol models this year.
However, in an ironic twist, it will continue to develop the internal combustion engine to make it more efficient right up till the last minute. Audi explains that due to strong demand forecast for internal combustion engine vehicles in China, its local partners there may continue to make them beyond 2033.
Demonstrating its seriousness, the luxury car maker has just announced its Q4 battery powered model. It is a crossover that will start from £40,750. It promises driving range of from 208 miles in the lowest trim to up to 316 miles in the highest, with battery capacity starting from 52 kWh. It’s 170 PS electric motor will push it from 0 to 62 mph in 9 seconds.
Audi’s parent company, Volkswagen has announced its own plan to spend 46 billion euros developing electric vehicles globally for the next five years. It will set up about six plants for making batteries in Europe by 2030, as part of its plan to eliminate ICEs from its product portfolio by 2040.
Other companies with electrification plans include Volvo, which will only make electric vehicles from 2030, Mercedes-Benz with a no-ICE target of 2039 and American General Motors with 2035 target.