SALES of Audi’s flagship Q8 e-tron totally electrical giant SUV vary are so sluggish in Europe that the corporate is significantly contemplating pulling the pin on its manufacturing.
Firm paperwork and statements along with studies throughout a variety of automotive media shops counsel Q8 e-tron gross sales have “collapsed” because the market speaks loud and clear to the 4 rings firm.
It’s too early to find out the mannequin’s gross sales efficiency right here as a revised Q8 e-tron vary solely arrived a number of weeks in the past.
The up to date Australian spec’ Q8 e-tron mannequin line-up is accessible in: Q8 50 wagon at $140,600 plus on-road prices, Q8 55 coupe-style Sportback $154,600 + ORC, SQ8 wagon at $173,600 + ORC and SQ8 Sportback at $180,600 + ORC.
European Q8 e-tron pricing is significantly lower than this beginning at €83,500 ($US89,627 or $A132,552) however it doesn’t appear to have been sharp sufficient to get the mannequin throughout the road with consumers.
Fundamental opponents are the BMW iX, Jaguar i-Tempo, Mercedes-Benz EQE and the Porsche Cayenne BEVs.
In an try to take care of a optimistic spin on the state of affairs, Audi is blaming a broader downturn in premium BEV gross sales that led to it contemplating an early finish to the flagship mannequin’s sequence manufacturing.
Exacerbating the issue for Audi is the present inflationary cost-of-living disaster.
In a press release, the German producer mentioned this significantly impacts the longer term prospects of its Q8 and Q8 Sportback e-tron fashions and so it’s contemplating ending the manufacturing run of the vehicles at its plant in Brussels, Belgium.
Audi would little question have been in search of higher information following vital upgrades launched throughout the brand new Q8 e-tron vary together with the battery that now affords 20 per cent extra capability from the identical packaging, because of 12 addition stacked prismatic cells (to now whole 432).
The Q8 50 e-tron wagon battery capability (lithium-ion) is listed at 95kWh gross (89kWh internet) with DC charging at 150kW. The WLTP vary is listed 411km.
The Q8 55 e-tron Sportback affords a battery capability of 114kWh, 170kW DC charging and a variety of 454km (WLTP), whereas the SQ8 wagon and Sportback every characteristic a 114kWh battery capability and 170kW DC charging, with WLTP ranges of 417km and 430km respectively.
Charging occasions fall between 28 and 31 minutes towards the 10-80 per cent customary when charged with a DC quick charger. The utmost AC charging price is listed at 22kW with occasions there of round 5 hours.
The Q8 50 e-tron wagon affords up 250kW of energy and 664Nm or torque to offer a 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds. The Q8 55 e-tron Sportback delivers 300kW and 664Nm and may speed up 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds. Prime velocity is electronically restricted to 200km/h.
The SQ8 variants produce 370kW of energy and 973Nm of torque from a three-motor driveline, giving a 0-100km/h in a formidable 4.5 seconds on its option to an electronically restricted v-max of 210km/h.
As reported in Wards 100 e-newsletter, the manufacturing unit’s board of administration has instructed Audi’s Firm Council of its intention to hold out a “restructuring of the location” and that this “may additionally embody a cessation of operations if no various is discovered”.
The report mentioned the Q8 e-tron was Audi’s first foray into BEV manufacturing in 2018 however the firm says it’s now seeing a pointy drop in incoming orders.
“Challenges in restructuring the Brussels web site embody its specific format and the actual fact it is rather near the town centre, leading to greater manufacturing prices in comparison with different crops and prompting the automaker to think about ending manufacturing of the Q8 e-tron forward of schedule,” the assertion mentioned.
Audi says this announcement “triggers the launch of the data and session course of the place the corporate administration will talk about options for the staff and the location along with the accountable social companions and study options intimately”.
CEO of Audi Brussels Volker Germann mentioned: “The announcement of the intention doesn’t imply {that a} choice has been made. Nonetheless, this information has been felt very profoundly by the staff in Brussels and by me too”.
“A clear and constructive dialog is necessary within the course of that can comply with. We are going to take all views under consideration,” he concluded.
