Audi is seeing their electrification efforts begin to pay off with the sale of almost 50,000 e-tron electric SUVs in 2020. A significant increase seen from the German automaker last year
Audi confirmed today a growth of 79.5% in regards to e-tron deliveries: “AUDI AG is continuing its transformation into a provider of sustainable premium mobility and is by some distance the biggest maker of electric vehicles among the three German premium brands. The successful Audi e-tron model (including the Audi e-tron Sportback) registered a significant increase in demand last year, with growth of 79.5 percent (47,324 cars) compared with the previous year. The Audi e-tron is the global top seller among electric vehicles made by German premium manufacturers. In Norway it is even the best-selling of all models. In Germany the Audi e-tron (including the Audi e-tron Sportback) was able to more than double its sales volume in the final quarter in comparison with the previous year.”
The fully-electric mid-size luxury crossover SUV was unveiled as a concept car at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Deliveries of the automakers first electric mass production car began in May 2019. It has an EPA range of 204 miles (328 km), or 222 miles (357 km) in the updated model. However, this could be just the beginning of Audi’s reaping the benefits of electrification as the 2021 Audi e-tron is receiving a $9,000 price cut while adding 18 miles to its range.
Considering the affect that the current global pandemic has had on all industries, the fact that Audi’s global sales were only down -8.3% compared to 2019 isn’t too bad. Audi saw roughly a 20% drop in sales in most markets, however, the Chinese market was another story. The German automaker saw it sales jump up 5% in China particularly in the EV segment. In the US, Audi saw a drop in sales of 16%, however, it saw a 10% rise in e-tron sales. Even wilder, in Europe, sales were down 19% but Audi e-tron/Audi e-tron Sportback was up a whopping 80%.
Once the coronavirus is under control, the automotive market begins to stabalize, and Audi launches the Q4 e-tron and e-tron GT, there’s no telling what kind of growth the automaker will see in the EV segment.