AUDI Australia has outlined clear-cut instructions for its future powerplants with a mixture of electrified fashions and a continuation of standard inner combustion automobiles.
The corporate this week confirmed that Australian consumers will get the drivetrain buffet, in a position to choose Audi merchandise with battery electrical, plug-in hybrid or inner combustion-engined choices
Expanded product strains in every are earmarked for launch this 12 months – one of many busiest in Audi’s latest historical past – beginning with the This autumn e-tron EV which began deliveries this week.
Audi Australia boss Jeff Mannering mentioned purchaser alternative was important within the premium phase.
“Our clear technique is to have a BEV, whether or not it is a PHEV, and an ICE obtainable within the mannequin segments,” he mentioned.
“We’re rising our product portfolio within the three drivetrain sorts – EV, PHEV and ICE – so prospects have a variety of choices.
“To have a broad mannequin vary provides prospects higher alternative however on the similar time, we’ve got to be cognisant that we don’t over-complicate our vary.
“The variety permits us to launch fashions such because the This autumn e-tron into segments that we have by no means performed in earlier than.
“Whenever you transfer as much as the B-segment (Q6) we’ve got the BEV coming (Q6 e-tron subsequent month), a PHEV and an ICE.
“For us, it’s about providing that buyer alternative in actually cool segments.”
Requested by GoAuto if the product rollout differed from siblings Porsche and Volkswagen, Mr Mannering mentioned every model had their very own route.
Prior to now month, Volkswagen (together with Cupra and Seat) and Porsche have introduced substantial modifications of their product growth of EVs – together with abandoning or delaying unique plans for unique EV manufacturing – in response to slowing EV demand in main markets.
He wouldn’t be drawn into the present wave of indecision and EV backpedalling tormented by Volkswagen, and to a lesser extent Porsche.
“We’re not pulling again from our electrification plans, however we’ve got a transparent route which has variations from Porsche and Volkswagen,” he mentioned.
“Porsche, for instance, has a smaller product vary than Audi so in occasions of market modifications, could not have the pliability to cut back its vary.”
Regardless of its world presence, Volkswagen is among the only a few producers on the Australian market with out a vary of hybrid automobiles.
In Australia, it has just one hybrid providing – the $140,000 plus on-road prices Touareg PHEV SUV.
A lot of the catalyst for the introduction of a string of latest fashions in 2025 is the New Automobile Effectivity Normal (NVES) which Mr Mannering mentioned had given Australia a lot faster entry to a really extensive product vary.
“Beforehand, Australia lagged behind as a result of there have been no guidelines in place that gave incentive for the total product vary,” he mentioned.
“Now we’ve got entry to those merchandise and with a a lot smaller timeframe from manufacturing facility to Australian showrooms.”
Mr Mannering mentioned this was “a pivotal change” for Audi, and the business.
“We’ve had merchandise within the EV phase in Australia since 2019 with our first e-tron,” he added.
“Now it’s a pivotal change for the Audi model in Australia, as a result of we’ve received merchandise coming in some actually hotly contested segments, like small SUV and thru to the medium SUV; and there are extra segments being lined.
“We’re coming off a base the place we have not had merchandise in these segments.”
Audi Australia’s head of product Matthew Dale mentioned among the product combine consists of variants under the LCT threshold and in a worth space not typically visited by the model.
“Getting two variants under the LCT threshold with the This autumn e-tron is one thing we’ve got by no means had earlier than,” he mentioned.
“That’s as a result of there has by no means been a product there earlier than (luxurious EV SUV).
“The Q6 e-tron will supply us one other alternative within the medium SUV phase, which is the second most hotly contested phase in the entire the Australian market.
“I believe that we have not but seen the expansion potential of all these new applied sciences.”
Mr Dale mentioned the advantages of NVES to Australian consumers was this entry to new applied sciences.
“Now we have extra hybrid plus coming, together with a brand new expertise popping out within the new Q5 which basically acts like a hybrid,” he enthused.
“You may drive it at sluggish speeds on pure electrical. So, it affords one other expertise, which we’ve been in a position to convey to the market due to NVES.
“For us, NVES permits for us to foyer for merchandise instantly out of Europe.
“As well as, it has historically been a very long time for a product out of Europe to achieve Australian showrooms.
“Now that we’ve got a CO2 goal via NVES, that timeline is shrinking and now we’re launching fairly carefully to the European market, which is nice for our Australian prospects.”
