Audi Q8 e-tron Nears End in Australia After Factory Closure
Audi’s initial mass-market electric vehicle, the Q8 e-tron (formerly known as the e-tron), is nearing the end of its run in Australia. This follows the closure of its production facility in Belgium.
During the launch of the Q6 e-tron, Audi Australia director Jeff Mannering confirmed that only 29 new Q8 e-tron models were left in the country. “Once that’s done, we’ll see what happens next in that bigger segment,” Mannering stated.
Audi has yet to announce a successor to the Q8 e-tron, but the company has indicated plans to offer all-electric models in all major SUV segments, including small, medium, and large.
With the Q4 e-tron and Q6 e-tron now available, the company will be looking to fill out its line-up with a Q3-sized model and the replacement for the Q8 e-tron.
The Brussels, Belgium production facility closed last week due to the failure of an investor to save the Volkswagen Group plant. The factory shutdown is a result of the Volkswagen Group’s financial challenges, intensified by the rise of affordable electric vehicles from China. Several German factories are even facing potential closure.
This means that if the Q8 e-tron gets a successor, it would need to be produced in a different factory for the Australian market.
Mannering emphasized that any future model in that segment would need to be appropriately positioned. “If it was $500,000? We probably wouldn’t have that segment of car,” Mannering said. “But that’s part of the everyday job for our product team and for me to make sure we get it [right], otherwise it’s pointless having that car if it doesn’t fit.”
In Australia last year, 619 units of the Q8 were sold, of which 174 were the all-electric e-tron variant.
The Q8 e-tron has been competing with electric models such as the BMW iX and the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. Last year, the BMW iX found 556 new homes, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV registered a 136-unit tally.
For reference, the Q8 e-tron starts at $153,984 before on-road costs for the entry-level 55 quattro, rising to $179,984 for the SQ8 Sportback e-tron variant.
