Will you miss it?
It’s not surprising that some traditional segments of the automotive industry will disappear soon. People continue to prefer crossovers and SUVs to sedans and hatchbacks . As indicates from various automakers, the small car segment is likely to disappear in the near future. Audi has just confirmed that its entry-level model will no longer be available.
The interview was very long and informative with Automotive News ( See the source link at bottom of article). Audi CEO Markus Duesmann confirmed that the A1 will be retiring after the current generation. This doesn’t necessarily mean that there won’t ever be an Audi-badged model, but it will not use combustion power. Duesmann answered a question about whether the Euro 7 emission standards in Europe will mean the end to the A1 or A3. “A lot will be dependent on the final Euro 7 goal. It is clear that it will be difficult to offer combustion engines in smaller segments in the future because of rising costs. We won’t see a successor for the A1. The new Euro 7 rules will not be too harsh and we can invest more in emobility.
Audi’s head honcho suggested that the A1 might be discontinued in February. He explained that it was expensive and economically unprofitable to electrify small cars. Audi’s entry-level product will be the Q2, once the A1 is out of production. The automaker “mightn’t do anything smaller.” Concerning the rest of the models in the range, Duesmann anticipates that by 2030 the brand’s family will include different powertrains depending upon the region. Audi believes that combustion engines will account for less than 20% in Europe, but the situation could change in China or the USA.