- Audi will continue producing petrol and hybrid vehicles beyond 2033.
- A new A3-sized entry EV is under development, set to launch in 2026.
- Audi will lead VW Group’s SSP platform development for EVs and range-extender setups.
Audi has hit the brakes on its EV-only ambition, officially walking back plans to end internal combustion engine (ICE) production by 2033.
CEO Gernot Döllner confirmed the brand’s new direction: flexibility. Instead of a hard stop, Audi will continue developing petrol and hybrid models alongside electric vehicles (EVs) for at least another 7 to 10 years - marking a strategic shift from the pure-EV path laid down by the previous leadership.
“Audi is launching from 2024 to 2026 a completely new lineup of internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid vehicles,” Döllner told Autocar, adding that this gives the company “complete flexibility for at least another seven, eight, maybe 10 years, and then we will see how our markets develop.”
The shift echoes a growing industry trend. Audi joins several rivals in backing off from aggressive EV timelines in favour of what many now see as a more realistic multi-drivetrain approach.
No small fry, no sudden exits
While sibling brands Volkswagen and Skoda are gearing up to release affordable small EVs like the ID.2 and Epiq, Audi won’t be joining that particular party.
Instead, it’s cooking up a standalone EV roughly the size of an A3, due to debut in 2026. That’ll likely be the new starting point in Audi’s future range - below which the A1 and Q2 are expected to bow out.
Döllner also hinted at excitement for enthusiasts, noting the next RS6 could feature a plug-in hybrid system. He teased the possibility of a R8 or TT but stopped short of making promises: “We are thinking about everything… we are car guys, let yourself be surprised.”
F1 dreams and shared tech streams
Audi’s renewed involvement in Formula One might not just be for the track. Döllner said it could “inspire us to think about road cars of the future,” suggesting a halo effect could ripple into showroom models.
On the back end, Audi will also take the lead in developing VW Group’s next-gen Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).
Originally designed for EVs, it’s now being adapted to support range-extender ICE applications as well.
Audi has not disclosed exact model timelines yet, but for fans of petrol-powered performance, this corporate U-turn might feel like an open road rather than a dead end.