Audi to launch 20 new models by 2025, majority electric cars

Audi has announced it will launch approximately 20 new models in the next two years, with at least half of them to be electric.

Audi CEO Markus Duesmann told a media conference there will be an electric SUV to slot in below the Q4 E-Tron, while the UK pulication Autocar reports an electric A3-sized will also be joining the line-up in the coming years.

It’s expected the as-yet unnamed model – potentially badged as the A3 E-Tron – will be based on the ‘SSP’ electric vehicle architecture, and could be shared across other Volkswagen Group brands including Skoda and Cupra when the platform is introduced in 2026.

The SSP architecture would allow Audi to develop performance versions of the small electric model – potentially battery-powered versions of the S3 and RS3, or their equivalents – in a similar move by Volkswagen, as reported in October 2022.

It’s not clear at this stage whether the 20 ‘new’ vehicles will include updates and facelifts, or if the number refers to all-new models.

According to Mr Duesmann, the company is “on the verge of the biggest product initiative” with its forthcoming line-up.

Audi also reaffirmed its plans to end production of all its internal-combustion engine cars by 2033, with those petrol and diesel models being replaced by electric vehicles over the next decade.

“Sales of all-electric models increased by 44 per cent year on year (in 2022),” Mr Duesmann said.

“In January and February 2023, our sales of all-electric vehicles worldwide were up almost 40 per cent compared to the same months last year.”

The Audi boss confirmed the Q8 E-Tron already had 20,000 pre-orders on the books, saying demand for electric vehicles was “booming”.