Audi may continue launching combustion-engine cars beyond 2026. The German manufacturer had planned to release its final ICE car next year, but plateauing EV adoption and investment in new hybrid technology have led Audi to consider prolonging its use of petrol and diesel engines.
- Audi reassessing prior plans to discontinue ICE car launches after 2026
- EV adoption is slower than Audi expected, increasing the relevance of hybrid powertrains
- Current ICE cars from Audi are slated to be available well beyond 2030
Audi rethinking ICE phase-out plans
Audi’s final ICE car was originally anticipated to be the next-generation Q7, which would’ve been launched in 2026 and discontinued in 2032. However, CEO Gernot Döllner recently outlined during Audi’s FY2025 earnings call that the company will “take a look at the life of combustion engines” and “reassess” its previously stipulated timeline of 2032 to phase out ICE cars.
More hybrid Audi models inbound
Döllner explained that the transition to all-electric powertrains will take longer than Audi originally planned and that combustion engines will play an important role until then as the bedrock of hybrid powertrains. Last year, Audi announced an expansion of its global hybrid line-up in response to the slowdown in EV adoption, and Döllner’s recent comments further reinforce the company’s hybrid plans.
Audi willing to extend ICE lifecycles further
Existing Audi ICE cars are still scheduled to remain on sale well beyond 2030, as per Döllner. If legislation allows, Audi is also prepared to extend the lifecycles of ICE cars further should there be enough demand, which Döllner reckons will have a “positive impact” on the company’s business model.
No more substantial investment planned for diesel engines
Speaking about diesel engines, Döllner emphasised their importance in Audi’s current global line-up but revealed that the company will not “invest heavily in new diesel generations.” Audi’s current TDI engines comply with Euro 7 emission norms and will remain available as long as the carmaker is able to manufacture and bring them to market. As it stands, Audi does not offer any diesel engine options for its model range in India.
Hormazd Sorabjee
Anurag Chaturvedi
