Following the notorious Dieselgate scandal, the VW Group wants to reshape its business and shift its focus on electric vehicles – and that, of course, includes Audi.
The Wolfsburg-based company has announced its intentions to introduce more than 30 new electric vehicles over the next ten years, but it looks like Audi will follow the same path, looking to concentrate on an eco-friendly future.
Two sources within the company have told Automotive News that Audi will boost spending on cleaner vehicles over the next decade, planning to invest a third of its R&D budget in digital services, electric cars and autonomous driving by 2025. Moreover, the brand reportedly spent 4.24 billion euros ($4.69 billion) on R&D in 2015 alone. To further free up funds for the new shift, said sources disclosed that certain “conventional” projects, like country-specific engines and transmissions, will be scrapped.
Moreover, the German ca maker will also offer on-demand mobility services for premium customers and electric vehicles sales to about a fourth by 2025. Audi announced its plans to manufacture its “first purely electric driven SUV” at its Brussels plant, beginning in 2018, with the batteries being made “in-house” at the same facility.
There’s also info that Ingolstadt is working on an all-electric Q5 that will be manufactured at its new factory in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico, which has seen a $1.3 billion investment and will build 150,000 cars annually.
Note: E-tron Quattro Concept pictured
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