Audi is no longer fully committed to ending the production of new gasoline-powered cars by 2026, as slower-than-expected growth in the electric vehicle market prompts the company to rethink its strategy.
The German automaker had previously stated that it would release its final new combustion-engine model in 2026, with the next-generation Q7 expected to be the last.
But according to a report from Autocar, Audi is now reconsidering that timeline.
Originally, the plan was for the new Q7 to launch in 2026 and remain in production until 2032, at which point Audi's entire lineup would shift to electric-only.
However, during a recent presentation of the company’s annual financial results, CEO Gernot Döllner acknowledged that the combustion engine still holds significant importance.
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“We’ll be evaluating the role of combustion engines in all our markets. We initially set 2032 as the cut-off, but we have to reassess that,” Döllner said.
He added that the transition to electric vehicles is taking longer than expected, and that gasoline and diesel engines will remain relevant for now.
No Clear End Date for Combustion Yet
At this point, Audi has not provided a new target date for phasing out combustion engines. This is a shift for the brand, which had been one of the few major automakers firmly committed to ditching fossil-fuel-powered cars.
In contrast, other manufacturers have already walked back similar goals. Volvo, for example, recently abandoned its ambition to go all-electric in the near term.
BMW, on the other hand, never committed to a complete phase-out.
The Munich-based company has maintained that electric models should complement, not replace, its existing lineup—offering future vehicles with both electric and combustion options.
