Top car brand could discontinue luxury EV model & may close factory where it’s built – with 1000s of jobs at risk
AUDI have revealed they are “considering the early end of production” of one of its most successful EVs.
The Q8 e-tron and Q8 Sportback e-tron models could both be scrapped as “the company is now seeing a drop in demand” for their very first electric motor that was released back in 2018.
The potential early discontinuation of the electric SUV comes as the German brand contemplates the closure of its factory in Brussels, Belgium.
The Brussels Forest site has been manufacturing Audi‘s Q8 e-tron and the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron motors since 2022.
In a statement, Audi cited “long-standing structural challenges” at the Brussels site alongside high logistical costs as a cause for its proposed restructure.
The Brussel Times even fears that the site’s possible closure puts “more than 3,000 Belgian jobs at risk.”
Overall, Audi have said they are “witnessing a global decline in customer orders in the electric luxury class segment” since the Q8 e-tron first entered production in 2018.
Despite its high price-tag, the Q8 e-tron has been a consistent seller for Audi – and was even a best-seller in Norway.
But the German company says they are “now seeing a drop in demand for the Q8 e-tron” which has “resulted in a sharp drop in incoming orders.”
In a review for the Q8 e-tron last year, Sun Motors described it as “a leading luxury electric vehicle with a battery that can charge in just 31 minutes.”
This comes as Citroen revealed earlier this month that they’ll be discontinuing multiple models in the neat future – while hinting at a fresh focus on a brand new, first-of-its-kind range.
But Honda are set to bring back one of its best loved sports cars after 23 years away.