Audi: all factories to produce at least one electric model by 2029

Audias we know, from 2026 it will only launch new electric models on the market and will proceed with a gradual phase-out of combustion technology. In 2033 the definitive farewell to endothermic engine technology will come. To achieve these goals, the German automaker has announced a production reorganization planinvesting in the updating of existing plants.

Thanks to this work, by 2029 all factories will make at least one BEV model. Therefore, by the end of the decade, Audi will produce models with electric drive in all production sites in the world. To prepare its employees for this future, the manufacturer will invest 500 million euros. Gerd WalkerAudi Board Member for Production and Logistics, commented on the topic of training:

To achieve our goal, we focus on the high professionalism and qualification of our staff. By 2025, we will prepare all employees for the future by investing around 500 million euros in training.

Going into more detail about the manufacturer’s reorganization plan, starting next year, the Audi Q6 e-tron will be the first full electric model built in Ingolstadt. Production of electric cars will also gradually begin in Neckarsulm, San José Chiapa (Mexico) and Győr (Hungary). Two sites, the Böllinger Höfe and the Brussels plant, already produce fully electric vehicles.

Audi adds that new factories will be built only where additional production capacity will be needed. For example, in China, a new plant is already under construction with partner FAW. Site where models based on the PPE platform (Premium Platform Electric) will be built locally. This plant, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, will be the first Chinese plant dedicated exclusively to 100% electric Audi cars.

The house of the 4 rings will benefit from the reorganization of the production of its factories to improve productivity and optimize procedures to ensure the economic sustainability of its activities. Proposals that are based on the goal of halving factory costs by 2033. To achieve this goal, Audi above all intends to reduce the complexity of its cars, adopting a simplified production process right from the early stages. Furthermore, the German brand will continue to digitize production through new IT platforms and new and advanced assembly systems.

But that’s not enough, because Audi intends improve the flexibility of production processes, in response to fluctuations in demand and raw materials. For example, the new Audi Q6 e-tron will initially be produced in Ingolstadt on the same line as the Audi A4 and Audi A5. The 100% electric cars will then gradually replace the combustion cars.

And on the subject of sustainability, by 2030, the German company intends to reduce its environmental impact by 50%, compared to the values ​​recorded in 2018, in terms of primary energy consumption, plant emissions, CO2 equivalents, atmospheric pollutants, water consumption, volumes of sewage and waste. In order to achieve these objectives, the internal production of renewable energy and the use of innovative technologies to create and implement the closed life cycles of raw materials with high energy consumption are essential.