By 2025, approximately €40 billion (Rs 319,841 crore) is to flow into strategic areas such as e-mobility, autonomous driving and digitization.
10 May 2018 | 2730 Views | By Autocar Pro News Desk
As a part of the Audi Vorsprung 2025 strategy, the board members at Audi have decided to aim for the sale of 800,000 fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids in 2025.
In order to release resources for the package of investments amounting to billions of euros, Audi adopted its ...
This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.
As a part of the Audi Vorsprung 2025 strategy, the board members at Audi have decided to aim for the sale of 800,000 fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids in 2025.
In order to release resources for the package of investments amounting to billions of euros, Audi adopted its ‘Action and Transformation Plan’ towards the end of last year. It has the objectives of tapping into new revenue sources, improving cost structures and accelerating the corporate transformation with regard to new business models. By 2025, approximately €40 billion (Rs 319,841 crore) is to flow into strategic areas such as e-mobility, autonomous driving and digitization. This also applies to the digitization of production.
“Our ambition has always been and will continue to be Vorsprung durch Technik,” says Rupert Stadler, chairman of the board of management of Audi.
The production version of the Audi e-tron prototype is the first result of the Roadmap E initiative which is targetted towards electrification of the complete portfolio by 2025. This also includes investment in the German plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm as well as a clear commitment for job security until the end of 2025.
Audi has also hinted at 20 electrified models in rapid succession until 2025. In 2019, the Audi e-tron Sportback will be the second fully electric car to be launched, followed by the Audi e-tron GT from Audi Sport in 2020. Audi will also offer an electric model in the premium compact segment in 2020.
Audi e-tron sportback concept
For its Roadmap E, the company is making systematic use of two major Volkswagen Group synergy levers in the area of development. In addition to the Modular Electric Toolkit developed by Volkswagen for the compact segment, Audi and Porsche are working together to implement the premium-architecture electrification for mid-range, full-size and luxury-class electric cars. This transforms into a reduction in the development costs and a faster availability of choice for the customers.
As per the release, the Audi e-tron is the first premium car to be produced in a certified CO2-neutral high volume production in Brussels. Following Brussels' example, Audi will make all its production sites worldwide CO2 neutral by 2030.
Audi's CO2 neutral site at Brussels
Audi is making a significant contribution to the development of a high-performance infrastructure through the Ionity joint venture. Audi has claimed that the production version of the e-tron will be the first car that can be charged at rapid-charging stations with up to 150 kilowatts. This will make the electric SUV ready for the next long distance in just under 30 minutes. Its lithium-ion battery provides a range of more than 400 kilometres in the WLTP driving cycle.
Peter Mertens, member of the board of management for technical development at Audi said, “50th anniversary of Vorsprung durch Technik is just around and Audi has announced that it is going to present its first autonomous electric car which would be based on the Audi Aicon show car in 2021. This would be an interurban shuttle with lounge character- initially in a pilot fleet and around the middle of the decade as a series production car for automated driving.
Audi sold 1,878,100 units globally in 2017. Audi has also initiated an investment programme that is set to channel a total of €24 billion (Rs 191,685 crore) into new model development and innovative technologies by 2019.
Also read:
Volkswagen Group boss: We were a “slow, lumbering supertanker”
Audi halts diesel A6 and A7 deliveries due to software 'irregularities'
5GAA, Audi, Ford and Qualcomm demonstrates C-V2X for improving road safety