Audi to Close Brussels Plant; Q8 E-tron Production in Question
Audi has announced the closure of its Brussels plant after failing to find a buyer for the facility. The factory, known for producing the Q8 E-tron electric SUV, will cease operations on 28 February. This decision has raised speculation about the future of the Q8 E-tron and the possibility of Audi ending its production earlier than anticipated.
Gerd Walker, Audi’s production boss, expressed the difficulty of the decision, stating that it was the toughest he has had to make in his professional career. The company had been in discussions with various car manufacturers regarding the sale of the plant, with reports suggesting that Chinese EV maker Nio was a potential buyer. However, Nio’s CEO, William Li, denied these claims, and negotiations ultimately broke down, leading to the inevitable closure of the Brussels facility.
The current generation Q8 E-tron, initially launched as the E-tron in 2018 and updated in 2022, was expected to be in production until the mid-decade. However, a decline in customer orders for electric luxury SUVs has put the future of the model in question. Audi attributes this decrease in demand to the introduction of new models on the Premium Platform Electric, such as the Q6 E-tron, which have impacted the popularity of the Q8 E-tron.
The Brussels plant faced longstanding structural challenges, with its urban location posing logistical obstacles compared to factories situated outside of cities. The plant’s closure will impact the production of the Q8 E-tron and its Sportback variant, with just 53,555 units produced in 2023. In contrast, the combustion-powered Audi Q8, manufactured in Bratislava, Slovakia, remains unaffected by the closure.
Despite the challenges faced by the Brussels plant, Audi remains committed to its electric vehicle lineup, with plans to continue production at other facilities. The closure of the Brussels plant marks a significant chapter in Audi’s manufacturing history, prompting speculation about the company’s future production strategies.