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Audi will unveil the new A2 e-tron in fall 2026, complementing its portfolio with an all-electric entry-level model family in the compact class. The A2 e-tron, manufactured in Ingolstadt, will further rejuvenate Audi’s model range and open up access to premium electric mobility. A preview of the vehicle’s silhouette can already be seen in the first design sketch. Audi is taking the next big step on the road to a consistently electric future. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has announced the A2 e-tron – the new electric model family from the brand with the four rings – at Audi’s Annual Media Conference. “We’ve listened. Our customers want electric mobility that impresses in everyday life. The A2 e-tron is our promise to deliver exactly that – efficient, compact, and confident. We’re making entry into the electric Audi world easier and more relevant than ever,” said CEO Gernot Döllner. New chapter in the compact premium segment The market for compact electric vehicles continues to grow – especially in large European cities. With the new A2 e-tron, Audi is targeting a broad international customer base that values everyday usability in the city, sustainability, high efficiency, and digital connectivity. The A2 e‑tron strengthens a younger, clearer, and increasingly electric portfolio and makes entering the brand more modern and more relevant for new target groups. Its name is a deliberate nod to the Audi A2, which pioneered efficiency and urban mobility over 25 years ago. The new A2 e-tron carries this mission forward into the electric age. Production in Ingolstadt The A2 e-tron is another fully electric product line to be built at Audi’s German home in Ingolstadt, underlining the company’s commitment to transforming its plants in Germany and Europe. “The A2 e-tron is crucial for our brand and also for our German home.

Premium in the entry-level segment: the Audi A2 – progressive in design and technology, and with top long-term quality The Audi A2 1.2 TDI was the world’s first four-door three-liter car It was launched 25 years ago – and polarized opinions: the Audi A2. With its innovative aluminum body, the compact car was light, aerodynamic, and economical in terms of consumption. There were five engine variants to choose from; the A2 1.2 TDI caused a sensation as the world’s first four-door three-liter car. And since 2003, the special “colour.storm” edition has attracted attention with its special paint colors. However, since sales fell short of expectations, Audi ended production in 2005 after about five years and 176,377 units built. The innovative Audi A2 can showcase its qualities in a “second career”: as a modern classic with a stable value, the A2 has a loyal fan base and can still be seen on the road today as a daily companion. In the early 1990s, the three-liter car was announced as a development goal by the Volkswagen Group and Audi, and the first work on the project began shortly afterwards. The designers in Ingolstadt worked closely with the experts at the aluminum center in Neckarsulm. In May 1995, they presented a concept study called “Ringo,” whose Audi Space Frame (ASF) was less complex than the ASF of the Audi A8, which was largely built by hand. Stefan Sielaff – the former head of Audi’s Munich design studio – took over the project and led the interior design, while Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke handled the exterior. Together with future design chief Gerhard Pfefferle, they gave the “rolling cage” Ringo a two-door body – which proved already close to the later design. As development progressed, two studies were created: one was a show car at the IAA in Frankfurt in 1997 and, in addition to the provisional model designation Al2, it bore the nickname “Light Green” because of its color.

In addition, production of the new Audi A2 e-tron will start in 2026. With the mix of fully electric models and combustion models such as the new Audi Q3, which will be manufactured jointly at the Győr and Ingolstadt sites in the course of the year, Audi is ensuring that the Ingolstadt site remains robust and future-proof. Current model series at location: Audi Q2, Audi A3, Audi A6 e-tron, Audi Q6 e-tron Find a portrait of location here Production Sites Audi Group Arno-Michael Drotleff

And with the A2 e-tron, we are bringing a highly efficient entry point into electric mobility to market in fall 2026 — a clear statement on efficiency.” “We are making a deliberate bet on strong partnerships and leveraging the power of the Group. Set to arrive as early as 2028 is the first Audi built on the new E/E architecture from RV Tech — a joint venture between the Volkswagen Group and Rivian.” “The industry — and Germany as a whole — needs to reinvent itself. Today, the US and China are driving the major technology trends, while Germany and Europe have fallen behind. Innovation for customers must therefore become the top priority again.” Jürgen Rittersberger: “In a difficult environment, clear decisions were needed – and that's exactly what we made: we established a new corporate strategy, pushed the restructuring further, and made Audi leaner and more competitive.” “We steered Audi through a geopolitically and industrially difficult environment in 2025 and delivered solid financial performance. At the same time, the numbers clearly show that we still need to make further gains on efficiency and competitiveness.” “In the near and medium term, we are focused on continuing to strengthen our market position. At the same time, we are driving the transformation forward by streamlining structures, simplifying processes, and reducing complexity.” “We want to grow our profitability step by step over the long term. If we act together as a team, we have everything it takes to put Audi back on a clear path to success.” Further information on the Annual Media Conference 2026 can be found on Audi MediaCenter.

Booklet features a selection of more than two dozen anniversaries The launch of the Audi A2 25 years ago; the first new Audi in post-war times 60 years ago; and Hans Stuck’s record-breaking exploits in the “world’s fastest road-going car” near Lucca 90 years ago With the “Anniversary Dates 2025” booklet, Audi Tradition is showcasing the most important moments in the product and company history of Audi, which is as eventful as it is diverse. Audi historians have selected a total of 27 dates to commemorate in 2025. Twenty-five years ago, the Audi A2 hit the market. With its aluminum body, it made a name for itself as a progressive compact car: light, aerodynamic, and economical. The Audi A2 polarized opinion with its design and unusual proportions; the concept was ahead of its time. However, sales remained below expectations, and Audi ended production after roughly five years and 176,377 units built. Since then, the A2 became a fan favorite and is now a sought-after collector’s item. Sixty years ago, the first post–World War II Audi rolled off the production line. With the “Auto Union Audi” vehicle, Auto Union GmbH revived the tradition-steeped Audi brand name in 1965. The new name was meant to show that this car represented a fresh start for Auto Union in terms of technology. The Audi was the first car from the brand with four rings to feature a four-cylinder four-stroke engine, and it marked the beginning of a new era in Ingolstadt. Twenty years later, on January 1, 1985, Audi NSU Auto Union AG was renamed AUDI AG, and since that time, the company and its products have shared the same short, memorable name. Ninety years ago, in February 1935, a spectacular attempt to break speed records took place in Italy. After test drives in October 1934 with the Grand Prix racing car on the AVUS in Berlin, the Auto Union racing department started developing the vehicle that would later be known as the “Lucca” car.

The Audi A2 represents another milestone in aerodynamics. At its debut at the IAA in 1999, its design, geared towards optimum streamlining and unusual proportions at the time, polarized public opinion. The basic model with an aluminum Audi Space Frame body achieved a drag coefficient of 0.28. The Audi engineers continued to tighten the aerodynamic screw with many individual measures and, in this way, reduced the drag coefficient of the Audi A2 1.2 TDI even further. The Audi A2 1.2 TDI is the world's first four-door, three-liter car and will be part of the special exhibition "Form vollendet"; it has a drag coefficient of 0.25 and an average fuel consumption of 2.99 liters per 100 kilometers. Curator Stefan Felber reveals his favorite inclusion in the upcoming exhibition: “The DKW F9 has a special meaning for me – it is the link between the two exhibitions, Windschnittig and Form vollendet. What’s more, this streamlined and seemingly plain car represents the new beginning of Auto Union in West Germany and IFA in East Germany.”

Audi Tradition also brought along the Audi quattro A2 Group B rally car, which competed in the 1983 Rally Finland. In addition, a DKW F 91 and a DKW Hartmann Formula V caused quite a stir. For Ken Block, the weekend trip to Europe was like a visit to automotive paradise. “The laps in the Audi RS Q e-tron were a phenomenal experience – even though the car probably feels more comfortable in the desert than in the snow,” said Ken Block. “Thanks to Mattias Ekström, who patiently explained all the special features of his car to me. A few minutes behind the wheel was enough to understand the fascination of this car.” Mattias Ekström was impressed. “It only took three turns for Ken to get fully up to speed,” said the Swede, who, with ninth place, was the most successful Audi driver in the 2022 Dakar Rally. For Ekström, the event in Austria was also the perfect preparation for his participation in the prestigious “Race of Champions”, which was held in the north of Sweden last weekend. Ekström only had to admit defeat to the eventual winner Sébastien Loeb in the semifinals. In addition to testing the Audi RS Q e-tron, Ken Block also took a little trip down memory lane and drifted around the circuit in the Audi quattro A2. For the American, who was inspired by Audi rally cars as a teenager, this was a personal highlight: “An insane moment that I won’t forget in a hurry.” Soon there will be even more moments like this: With the purely electric Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron, which Audi developed as a one-off exclusively for Ken Block and which was inspired by the Audi Sport quattro S1, the Hoonigan team is producing a video entitled “Electrikhana” that will be released in the next few months and will be the latest chapter of their “Gymkhana” series. Video: Mattias Ekström and Ken Block in the Audi RS Q e-tron