Audi has reportedly scrapped its plan to go all-electric by 2032, but this doesn’t mean the company is giving up on electric vehicles entirely. In fact, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has announced that a new electric vehicle will begin production in 2026. This new model will be an electric vehicle in the class of the A3, which is a compact sedan or hatchback.
The new electric vehicle is likely to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, which underpins the Volkswagen ID models and the Audi Q4 e-tron. The next-generation Volkswagen Group Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) is not due to arrive until 2029 or 2030, so it’s likely that the new Audi model will use the existing MEB platform.
Audi’s decision to produce an electric A3 could be a response to the market demand for more affordable electric vehicles. The ID.2, a four-door hatchback, is set to be built in Spain and could be a potential rival to the new Audi electric A3.
The production of the new electric A3 will take place at Audi’s Ingolstadt, Germany facility, which is currently undergoing a transformation to increase flexibility and reduce labor costs. The company plans to reduce up to 7,500 jobs by 2029 as part of its efforts to become more efficient.
In related news, Audi has announced that it will give the A5 more power in its fight against the BMW 3 Series, as well as launch a plug-in hybrid version of the car. Additionally, Tesla is reportedly withholding wages from some German employees who are on sick leave, and asking employees at its Brandenburg plant to release their doctors from medical confidentiality.