Automotive Rumor: Audi to deep-six the Audi Q8 e-tron EV

Rumor has it that another Electric Vehicle (EV) is about to get the axe due to poor sales and high production costs. Audi is reportedly considering the discontinuation of the Audi Q8 e-tron, the company’s first all-electric crossover as companies continue to lose their shirt on EVs

According to Automotive News, Audi is reporting a “sharp drop in incoming orders” for the all-electric crossover. Additionally, Audi’s assembly plant in Brussels, which produces the Q8 e-tron, is reportedly facing high logistical costs and high manufacturing costs, as well as structural challenges that are apparently difficult to implement due to the facility’s location near the center of the city.

“Following an intensive review of the market situation and the general conditions of the Brussels site, Audi is considering the early end of production of the Q8 e-tron model series,” Audi said.

Audi says it is now investigating options for the Brussels facility and that if a solution is not found, operations could stop completely. The facility currently employs roughly 3,000 workers.

The Audi Q8 e-tron is a relatively new model, initially launching for the 2019 model year and recently receiving a mid-cycle refresh, as well as a name change. When it was initially released, the crossover was named simply “e-tron” but later adopted the Q8 name.

Pricing for the 2025 model starts at $76,095, with an estimated range of 285 miles per charge. In the U.S., sales amounted to 4,620 units through the first half of the 2024 calendar year. Sales peaked at 8,551 units for the 2023 calendar year.

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