According to a Reuters report, the last Audi vehicle powered by internal combustion will roll out factory doors sometime in 2026.
Audi board chairman Markus Duesmann told company executives and labor leaders last week that the company “will stop introducing cars based on petrol and diesel engines from 2026.” That includes hybrid models.
Audi parent company Volkswagen has been aggressively pursuing electrification. In the U.S., Audi has more electric vehicles for sale today than VW does, along with several more already publicly announced.
Four EVs So Far
The e-tron SUV and e-tron Sportback have been well-received by critics, boasting the usual sporty Audi driving dynamics with an emissions-free powertrain. The new e-tron GT, a six-figure luxury sports car with either 522 or 637 horsepower depending on model, competes with high-performance EVs like the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S. The upcoming Q4 e-tron SUV will be the most affordable Audi EV, at least through 2021, starting under $45,000.
But the company currently maintains an entire lineup of gas-powered sedans, SUVs, and sports cars. Its four EV models don’t come close to replacing the full Audi stable. If the Reuters report is correct, we expect to see a significant number of new Audi EVs in a short time.
Rivals Have Not Announced Similar Plans
Notably, the company’s major German rivals have not announced an end date for internal combustion. But both have significant EV efforts.
BMW’s new i4 EV is perhaps the purest German sport sedan in electric form we’ve seen. Mercedes’ ultra-luxe EQS, meanwhile, may be the world’s most luxurious electric car. But, if the Reuters report is correct, Audi has gone much further than either rival in its electrification goals.
