Audi No Longer Has a Firm Date to Ditch Gasoline Engines
Audi, which previously pushed back its target of becoming an all-electric brand to 2033, no longer has a firm timetable for eliminating gasoline engines.
The planned EV transition, including no new gas models after 2026, was envisioned by former CEO Markus Duesmann in an effort to turn the page after the “Dieselgate” scandal that hit the Volkswagen Group.
Current boss Gernot Döllner this week told British publication Autocar that Audi is launching a completely new lineup of internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid vehicles from 2024-2026, giving the company “complete flexibility for at least another seven, eight, maybe 10 years.”
“Then we will see how our markets develop. We have already decided to extend the production beyond the communicated end dates of the past,” he said.
Döllner also hinted that Audi's participation in Formula 1 from 2026 could bring some nice surprises for performance enthusiasts. The anticipated replacement for the R8 sports car, for example, might not be fully electric if we were to draw our own conclusions. Although all options are on the table, the brand's top executive insists, “it's a little too early to talk about that.”
The interview with Autocar covered other topics, including design. Döllner announced that the first concept under new design chief Massimo Frascella will debut later this year. It won’t be a design study—Audi wants all future concepts to preview upcoming production models.
Look for a “bold step” in styling and more separation from the brand’s past and current models, Döllner said.
