Following the premiere of the Audi e-tron, it has been announced that the brand will further its electric endeavours by offering twelve all-electric vehicles across key market segments by 2025.
The e-tron SUV will open Audi’s electric portfolio which will expand to include the e-tron Sportback in 2019. From there a range of classic body layouts, including Avant and Sportback, will be available. Electric drive is expected to be offered by Audi in every market segment the brand competes in.
Peter Mertens, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Audi, said: "The Audi e-tron is definitely a highlight in the history of our company and the starting signal for our electrification strategy.”
Four technical platforms and product families are needed to offer electric vehicles in every segment which will mean technical development and other VW Group brands such as Porshe will work collaboratively to achieve that outcome.
In the case of the Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback, Audi’s modular longitudinal platform shares components with the electric vehicles. A separate product family of e-SUVs with electric quattro all-wheel drive is fast developing though.
By the end of 2018, Audi will also present the first member of another e-platform, the Audi e-tron GT concept car which will debut at the Los Angeles motor show.
Also accommodating the rise of the electric vehicles is a joint development with Porsche in the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) which will serve as the basis for multiple Audi model families with all-electric drive in the B through D segments of the market. The PPE was exclusively developed for electric drive models with consideration of weight, the package and proportions of the body at the forefront of the development.
Also under development with several Volkswagon Group brands is the modular electrification platform (MEB) which will be the basis for a series of Audi e-models.
Audi will also be expanding the range of plug-in hybrid vehicles as Mr Mertens said: "In the future, virtually every market segment will include models powered by a combination of electric motors and a combustion engine, and that can be charged at an electric outlet.”
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