Audi Develops Hybrids But Stays Away from EVs

Hybrids and electric vehicles are currently the main concern for a large part of the automotive industry and Audi makes no exception to this statement. The German manufacturer however says that it prefers to stay away from the EV market and concentrate on hybrid models when it comes to green vehicles. It is developing some electric projects though, but no launch date has been provided and more discussions are to be held within the company before taking a decision.

There will be several hybrid models that will hit the market in the upcoming years, starting with this year's Q5, while others will be launched in 2012 and 2013. Each of the hybrids to go on sale in Europe will also reach the US and China in a two-year timeframe following their debut on the Old Continent, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told Automotive News Europe.

"We will start with the launch of a Q5 hybrid in Europe this spring, the A6 hybrid follows at the end of the year and an A8 hybrid in 2012."

Electric projects are already under development, with new tests to be made this year in Germany. Both the R8 and the A1 will receive battery-powered versions, but Audi says that mass production is still out of discussion.

"We are still in the early phase with the electric vehicle, in terms of commercialization and whether the cars will be sold or leased, or will just be a collector's car," Stadler explained. "First of all we have to industrialize the lithium-ion-battery. This is happening with the hybrid cars which now have the role of a bridge technology."