Audi EV Crossover Expected to Compete with Tesla by 2017
The Audi A3 e-tron
Audi wants to stake its claim as the world’s foremost luxury brand, a powerhouse in motorsport, and a trailblazer in autonomous driving. Now, according to reports, it’s setting its sights on knocking out Tesla as the first name in premium electric vehicles by launching an all-electric crossover by 2017.
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told Bloomberg that its engineers are at work on putting together an electric vehicle that will comply with US zero-emission vehicle standards, adding that it’s “probably” going to be a crossover.
Despite delays, the Tesla Model X crossover is still slated for 2015 availability, which will give it a couple of years heads up on an eventual Audi EV crossover.
Audi launched its (positively wonderful) A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid hatchback earlier this year, and it intends to launch at least one new PHEV every year henceforth, with the end-goal being an expanded lineup that features as many as 60 vehicles by the year 2018.
The advent of an Audi EV crossover could also very well provide some of the juice that the brand needs to surpass BMW in global sales by 2020, which is one of its stated goals. Audi currently sits at number two around the world, and could accomplish its luxury segment-topping ambitions if it continues to expand upon sales growth in the US and China.
News Source: Automotive News (subscription required)
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