Audi to close major factory in just months sparking fears for future of iconic EV model
GERMAN car giants Audi are set to shut down a major EV factory plunging the future of an iconic motor into serious doubt.
Audi confirmed they are closing down their Brussels plant in less than three months – sparking fears production on the beloved Q8 E-tron could dramatically stop.
The factory is due to officially close its doors on February 28 with Audi bosses describing the shock decision as “painful”.
Audi’s production boss Gerd Walker said: “The decision to close the Brussels factory is painful.
“Personally, it was the toughest decision I have ever had to make in my professional career.”
An exact reason for the closure is yet to be given by Audi has said recently that they have faced “long-standing structural challenges” at the Brussels Forest site.
It sits close the centre of the bustling city which made restructuring almost impossible.
The location also drove up logistical costs such as delivery prices and shipments compared with other factories across Europe.
The Brussel Times even fears that the site’s closure puts “more than 3,000 Belgian jobs at risk”.
Audi had reportedly even tried to sell the plant off to keep production alive in recent months.
Chinese EV specialists Nio were said to be tipped to take over, Belgian media reported.
But their boss William Li shit down any rumours of a deal before an Audi spokesperson confirmed talks had broken down.
The factory was the main producer of the Q8 E-tron, originally known just as the E-tron, since 2022.
The closure is set to leave the future of the model unclear.
Back in July, Audi revealed they are “considering the early end of production” of the Q8.
The E-tron was Audi’s first series-production electric car when it was first made in 2018.
It took the world of electric motors by storm and went on to have a major update four years later when it changed its name to the Q8.
One of the main differences saw it equipped with a much larger battery.
The Q8 was expected to remain as Audi’s flagship pick for at least a few more years.
The car manufacturer’s had even started to branch out with newer models in the same range such as the smaller Q4 E-tron and the mid-sized Q6 E-tron.
Fears were already high over the future of the cars after Audi said a “global decline in customer orders in the electric luxury-class segment” threatened the SUV’s viability.
They also said there had been a noticeable drop in demand for the Q8 E-tron but that this was “segment specific”.
The Brussels plant produced just 53,555 Q8 E-tron models and its Sportback sibling in 2023 alone.
They added that none of its other EVs were in a similar position.
In a review for the Q8 e-tron last year, Sun Motors described it as “a leading luxury electric vehicle with a battery that can charge in just 31 minutes.”
It comes as Audi unveiled a brand new logo for its latest EV launch – just days after luxury rival Jaguar was slammed for a major rebrand.
The automaker is hoping to target young drivers with the change, scrapping its iconic four rings logo and replacing them with letters instead.
New models won’t feature Audi’s iconic 1932 rings – and will instead simply have ‘Audi’ written across the front.