Audi is poised to experience a slight uptick in sales this year, setting the stage for a much more robust performance in 2024 as the Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) subsidiary embarks on its eagerly awaited foray into the world of electric vehicles. A top executive delivered this exciting update on Monday during the IAA mobility show in Munich.
Hildegard Wortmann, Audi’s sales chief, stated, “While 2023 won’t mark the major leap forward, we need a bit more time for that to unfold.”
Audi, playing catch-up to its German counterparts BMW and Mercedes in the electric vehicle transition, is making strides. Audi’s electric vehicle portfolio is smaller compared to its rivals. In the first half of 2023, sales of Audi’s three fully electric models registered a 50% growth. In contrast, BMW’s sales more than doubled, and Mercedes nearly doubled their electric vehicle sales, outperforming Audi in this segment.
Nonetheless, Audi has ambitious plans for the next two years, with approximately 20 new models in the pipeline, half of which will be electric. The debut model in this electrifying lineup is the electric version of the Q6, showcased at the Munich auto show.
While Audi has faced challenges in the Chinese market recently, it is banking on a collaboration with Chinese automaker SAIC to revitalize its business there. Wortmann disclosed that Audi achieved a 2% growth in China during the first half of the year, although it’s premature to predict the automaker’s overall performance in the region for 2023.