- Audi confirmed that it closed its factory in Brussels, Belgium, in February, taking the electric Q8 e-tron SUV with it.
- That means that 2025 is the final model year for the Q8 e-tron and its more aerodynamic Sportback variant.
- Audi said a successor to the Q8 e-tron is on the way, which we think could get bigger and pricier to differentiate it more from the Q6 e-tron that arrived this year.
Last December, Audi confirmed plans to shut down production at its factory in Brussels, Belgium, in February, leaving the future of the Q8 e-tron SUV up in the air. At the time, Audi said a small number of Q8 e-trons would be produced for the 2025 model year, but it didn’t outright ring the death knell for the SUV. Now, the automaker has officially confirmed the discontinuation of the Q8 e-tron, but also divulged that the gap in its lineup created by the SUV’s departure won’t remain empty for too long.The e-tron Is Gone (but Not For Long)In a statement to Car and Driver, an Audi spokesperson said that the Brussels facility was shut down on February 28, 2025, and confirmed that this decision spelled the end for the current Audi Q8 e-tron. The SUV, which was simply called the e-tron when it went on sale for the 2019 model year, lasted for seven years in the United States and ushered in an era of dedicated electric Audis.audiA sloped-roof Sportback model joined the lineup for the 2020 model year before the SUV added the “Q8” prefix in conjunction with a refresh for the 2024 editions. The Q8 e-tron was never a huge seller, peaking at 8180 units sold for the traditional SUV variant in 2023, with an additional 2907 units sold for the Sportback. Combined, the Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback were Audi’s bestselling EVs each year until 2024, when it was surpassed by the compact Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback’s combined figure.While the Q8 e-tron will depart after the 2025 model year, Audi confirmed to C/D that a successor is in the works. The automaker didn’t provide any details on the successor or when it might arrive, but we wouldn’t be shocked to see the next-generation Q8 e-tron grow in size and price to better establish its status as a flagship electric SUV. Audi launched the Q6 e-tron this year in the mid-size electric luxury SUV segment, which measures about six inches shorter overall than the Q8 e-tron and undercuts the Q8 e-tron’s base price by around $10,000. More on Electric Audi SUVsCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: caranddriver.com
