German carmaker Audi is looking to hybrids to extend the life of petrol-powered models, with a likely move away from its previously stated goal of selling only electric vehicles (EVs) in most markets by 2033.
Announcing its 2024 financial results earlier this week, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said the brand is committed to continue developing internal combustion engine-powered vehicles beyond 2026, when it was originally slated to launch its final petrol car.
“As part of our product initiative, we are not only launching new electric models, but also a new generation of combustion engine vehicles and plug-in hybrids,” Mr Döllner said.
“We will manage the production of our last combustion engine vehicles depending on the various developments in the world markets.”
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Autocar additionally reported Mr Döllner as saying, “For all global regions, we are going to take a look at the life of combustion engines.”
“2032 was the date we had communicated, but we have to reassess those dates and deadlines.
“On balance, an extension of combustion engines will have a positive impact on our business model.”
In 2021, Audi said it would go all electric by 2033, except for the Chinese market.
Both traditional series hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) will play a part in the elongated transition to an electric-only lineup, which is now without a set date.
The new-generation A5, A6, Q5 and next-generation Q3 are set to gain PHEV powertrains overseas within the next year, bridging the gap to going exclusively electric.
While Europe is set to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2035, this doesn’t extend to other core Audi markets such as China and the US.
Diesel engines were once commonly available in Audi’s SUVs and large passenger cars, however Mr Döllner told Autocar the firm “will not invest heavily in new diesel generations”.
Despite this, he said Audi’s current Euro 7-compliant diesel models will remain available “as long as we are able to produce and bring these engines to market”.
“We won’t extend our diesel lineup – if you look at the numbers, it’s declining – but it’s important to us, so we are flexible in that field,” said Mr Döllner.
As reported yesterday, Audi is set to cut up to 7500 jobs by 2029 in a bid to find medium-term savings of more than one billion Euros (A$1.7bn) annually.
Global deliveries of its vehicles were down by 11.8 per cent in 2024, with declines not only in its home market of Germany but also China and North America.
Deliveries also slumped by 19.5 per cent in Australia, with every model bar the A6 and Q3 down on the previous year.
Audi blamed the drop in global deliveries on challenging economic conditions, fierce competition, uncertainty over government electric vehicle (EV) incentives in some markets, and limited availability of parts.
