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Audi expands EV range with Q6 e-tron, plans to introduce mid-size SUV next year

Audi will have 25 EV models in its global portfolio by 2025 and is aiming for 15 per cent sales from EVs by 2025-26

Anasuya Basu Calcutta Published 21.08.23, 11:29 AM
The Audi Q8 e-tron

The Audi Q8 e-tron Sourced by the Telegraph

Audi India is planning to bring mid-size electric SUV, the Q6 e-tron, next year.

The company launched the Q8 e-tron in four variants in Mumbai last week at prices ranging from Rs 1.13 crore to Rs 1.30 crore.

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Audi will have 25 EV models in its global portfolio by 2025 and is aiming for 15 per cent sales from EVs by 2025-26.

"Some of those 25 EVs will find its way to the country. The Q8 e-tron and the Q8 e-tron Sportback are coming to India within a few months of its global launch that happened in February this year," said Balbir Singh Dhillon head of Audi India in an interview with The Telegraph.

Asked about the adoption of EVs, Dhillon said: "We are seeing a very positive response. But with our EVs, which are sold as Completely Built Units (CBUs), priced upwards of Rs 1 crore, we are addressing a limited segment. As the the EV ecosystem gets going coupled with a robust charging infrastructure, we will see a faster adoption."

The company is mulling the possibility of assembling its EVs in India to avoid the 110 per cent import duty on CBUs.

"But we need to make a business case out of the project to justify the investments needed to assemble EVs locally."

Dhillon says the inflection point for EVs will happen once they become the only vehicle in the customers' garages instead of being the second or the third car.

"When EVs become the only vehicle for customers, they are bound to do intercity travel. Now they are mostly taking the EV around in the city and for that range anxiety is not an issue. With the e-tron Q8 having a range of 600 km, our customers can safely take it out on the highway."

The sportback, a new bodystyle that Audi has been offering is accounting for a third of its sales. Essentially a coupe, the sportback was first introduced with the e-tron.

Audi India is poised for a strong double-digit growth this year. "We have a clear visibility of supply for the next two to three months. The supply chain has improved considerably."

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