According to media reports, Audi is considering halting production ahead of schedule for its flagship models Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback, and there is even the possibility of closing its Brussels factory in Belgium. This decision comes as Audi faces lower-than-expected sales figures, prompting a downward revision of this year's revenue targets.
Audi has indicated that despite significant investments in electric vehicle production capacity and technology development, the demand for high-end electric cars in the European market has been far below expectations, dealing a severe blow to their plans. If the Brussels factory lacks alternative models or purposes in the future, it may face the risk of closure. Notably, Audi's parent company, Volkswagen Group, has not closed any factories since the closure of the Westmoreland plant in Alabama in 1988.
Data reveals that the Brussels factory is Audi's first dedicated facility for producing electric vehicles, currently focusing on manufacturing the Q8 e-tron. In 2023, the factory produced a total of 53,555 pure electric vehicles, accounting for approximately 30% of Audi's global delivery of 178,000 electric vehicles for the year.
Christophe De Beukelaer, a member of the Belgian parliament, highlighted that the Brussels factory employs around 3,000 permanent workers and 500 temporary workers. Labor unions are concerned that a large-scale restructuring of the factory could potentially lead to significant job losses.
As a reference, the current Audi Q8 e-tron, previously branded as Audi e-tron, was launched as a mid-term facelift model and serves as the flagship SUV in Audi's electric vehicle lineup, including the Q8 e-tron quattro, Q8 Sportback e-tron quattro, SQ8 e-tron quattro, and SQ8 Sportback e-tron quattro variants. It debuted in Europe in February 2023, with a starting price in Germany of €74,400 (approximately 586,200 RMB).
