Audi mulling local production of electric cars in India, aims more volume

Audi is weighing the feasibility of manufacturing electric vehicles locally in India as it aims to step up its volume, said a senior company official. As the German automaker plans to go all-electric from 2033, the brand shared it is a matter of time before EVs will be locally produced as its electric products so far have received a good response.

Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon said the company is in the process of continuous evaluation to gauge the acceptability of electric mobility in the country. “But you have to also understand (that) we have, as Audi India or Audi AG, already decided that by 2033 we will become an all-electric car company. So, it's a matter of time. It's a question of when, not if that whether we will do it," added Dhillon.

Audi India has launched five electric vehicles in the country in the last seven months. The electric vehicles launched are e-tron 50, e-tron 55, e-tron Sportback 55, e-tron GT, RS e-tron GT. The brand registered a two-fold jump in retail sales at 3,293 units in India last year compared to 1,639 units in 2020. “So far, it has been extremely successful. This is one segment, which actually has performed even better than what we initially anticipated," Dhillon said.

Audi India head also mentioned the company’s product portfolio in the EV segment is currently strong enough to cater to the customer needs for next coming years.

Audi's competition Mercedes-Benz has announced that it would locally assemble its EQS electric sedan in India and would be launched in the market in the fourth quarter of 2022. This upcoming EV would add to the all-electric SUV EQC, which was launched as a fully imported unit in October 2020 at a price of ₹1.07 crore.

(With inputs of PTI)