One by one, automakers are pulling back on the ambitious electric model goals they announced a few years ago. Audi is the latest to acknowledge that sales of internal combustion cars may continue beyond the predetermined end date.
In 2021, the company marked the four circles pledged to switch to an all-electric range by 2033but is now considering keeping the internal combustion engine cars in its range for longer.
In a recent interview, Audi CEO Gernot Dollner emphasized that the German luxury brand must remain “flexible.” He made the statement amid a possible decision by the European Union to delay its goal to ban sales of new cars with internal combustion engines by 2035.
As he said:
Legislation now says that cars must be zero emission, and synthetic fuel doesn’t help because it is zero emission. If we as humanity believe we need a switch to CO2 – and looking at the weather, we do – a battery car is the only way. The Paris Agreement says we will need CO2 neutrality by 2050.
Meanwhile, Audi is increasing its focus on plug-in hybrid cars, and all of its future combustion engine cars will include a PHEV option. Dollner acknowledged that plug-in hybrids will remain in his company’s lineup longer than planned because the transition to all-electric models is not progressing as quickly as originally expected.