Audi aims to be the spearhead of e-mobility within the group and increases investments

The Ingolstadt-based Volkswagen subsidiary Audi has committed to the accelerated electrification of its portfolio, aiming to serve as a spearhead within the VW group. In 2021, the company doubled its range of purely electric models and, for the first time, introduced more new electric vehicles than combustion engines, the manufacturer claims. With the world premiere of the Audi e-tron GT at the beginning of the year and the Audi Q4 e-tron in the spring, they are on track with the so-called E-Roadmap. With the investment planning for the next five years, they now intend to further accelerate the transformation into a provider of what they define as "connected and sustainable premium mobility."

"The pace of changes in our society is rapidly increasing. Therefore, we are accelerating our transformation towards climate-neutral mobility. A sustainable business model is clearly a matter of attitude and responsibility for us," explains CEO Markus Duesmann.

With a total investment of around 37 billion euros, the preliminary investments, especially for future vehicle projects, are being increased, the Ingolstadt-based company announced. The premium manufacturer has earmarked around 18 billion euros solely for electrification and hybridization, aiming to underline its "clear commitment to electromobility." By 2025, the company intends to offer more than 20 fully electric models, only introducing new BEVs from 2026 onwards, and by 2033, they plan to have completed the full transition to battery-electric drives and phased out combustion engines.

Expansion of the Charging Infrastructure

With the increasing number of electric models, the requirements for the charging infrastructure, which is being expanded worldwide in partnerships within the group, are also rising. In Nuremberg, Audi is now testing an urban premium charging concept in practice. With the so-called Audi charging hub, they aim to address customers without home charging options and intend to meet potential peak demands in the future. The hub opens on December 23, offering reservable High-Power-Charging (HPC) points as well as a directly connected lounge area intended as a "high-quality place to stay." Used lithium-ion batteries, so-called second-life batteries from dismantled development vehicles, serve as energy storage. Photovoltaic modules on the roof provide additional green energy.

With the charging hub, another location of the e-tron Charging Service goes online. The Audi-owned charging service is currently available with around 290 charging points in 26 European countries. Additionally, Audi highlights the joint venture Ionity, in which Audi was a founding member and which is currently investing 700 million euros in its fast-charging network across 24 countries. By 2025, the number of 350 kW charging points is expected to increase from the current 1,500 to around 7,000.