Audi is the only upscale automaker without a factory of its own in the US, and that is about to change. On Saturday, Audi announced plans for a new, $4 billion factory in Peach County, Georgia. US President Donald Trump could not resist making political hay out of the news, but then again, the joke may be on him. Audi’s plan for the US market reportedly includes plug-in hybrids with a battery range of range of 70-80 miles. So much for the war on EVs…
📌 The Core Development
Plug-in hybrid EVs have fielded a fair share of criticism for only going halfway — or less — down the decarbonization trail . However, here in the US where long distance commutes are common, plug-in hybrids provide drivers with a gasoline-soaked security blanket that is difficult to shake. For those with less onerous driving schedules, the high cost of gas provides ample incentive to log as many miles on battery power as possible.
Regardless of driver habits in the US, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner is evidently among those anticipating that the US market will come around to full battery EVs eventually, following the lead of China and Europe. “In China, we see a complete transition to battery electric, and the same is true for Europe in a 10-year perspective,” Döllner told a group of reporters in August, including US News & World Report managing editor Alex Kwanten.
🔍 Background & Sector Context
“And we see it totally differently in North America, especially the U.S.; we see for the next 10, 15 years still a dominance in combustion engine and hybrid drivetrains , and we will have to reflect that in our global portfolio,” Döllner added.
While waiting for the US market to come around to full battery EVs, Audi has been leaning on plug-in hybrids as a workaround. “We will take first steps to bring plug-in hybrids to the US,” Döllner affirmed to US News & World Report in July.
📊 Industry & Real-World Impact
“I can definitely say that the RS model that will come to the market will be a plug-in hybrid one, and we are evaluating which other segments also could make sense in bringing that to the U.S. market,” he added.
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🔮 Strategic Outlook & What Lies Ahead
According to reports, the new Audi RS 5, 630-horsepower high-performance plug-in will be the first to arrive, sometime later this year or early next year. For the performance class, drivers can expect a battery range of 50 miles. Regular hybrids will clock a range of 70-80 miles.
Automotive News also added some details in July. “Audi of America President Vito Paladino confirmed the German luxury brand will offer hybrids beyond the upcoming RS 5 sedan and Nuvolari supercar, which feature different plug-in hybrid systems ,” Automotive New summarized in a Facebook post.
