Audi may ditch electric Q8 e‑tron amid global demand dip
According to an official press release, Audi is considering ending production of the electric Q8 e-tron model and contemplating what to do with the Brussels factory. Mercedes is also cautious about the development of e-mobility. BMW? The situation is completely different there.
If these were just rumours, they could be seen as a curiosity. However, an official Audi press release mentions a significant global decline in orders for luxury electric vehicles. Officially, the drop in orders is due to introducing new models on the PPE platform. So far, only one has been shown: the Q6 e-tron. It's worth noting the marketing balancing act.
The decline in popularity means a problem for the factory in Brussels, located close to the centre, with high logistical costs. Audi is considering restructuring the assembly lines but does not rule out completely closing or selling the facility. Automotive News Europe reports that the Volkswagen Group had not closed a facility since 1988 when the Westmoreland plant in Pennsylvania was shut down.
Exciting information also comes from Mercedes, which will not increase battery production. "We are relatively flexible. We will think about next steps when we have more transparency on demand. This is enough to cover the next stage," said Markus Schäfer, head of technology development. Meanwhile, Mercedes' managing director, Ola Källenius, admitted in February that the company will do everything to ensure the competitiveness of its internal combustion engines. These very engines were supposed to become obsolete.
On the other hand, the situation at BMW looks interesting – since the beginning of the year, 107,933 electric vehicles have been delivered, a 22% increase. Mercedes, in turn, delivered only 45,000 electric cars, a 25% decrease. BMW owes this to a broad model offensive – for example, the iX1 model. Perhaps success has been influenced by electric vehicles being almost indistinguishable from their combustion engine counterparts on the outside.
