The Audi A4 e-tron could be pushed back to spring 2029, according to reports attributed to German business newspaper Handelsblatt and covered by electrive. Audi had previously pointed to a 2028 launch window, but the programme appears to be affected by delays surrounding Volkswagen Group’s new SSP electric architecture.
The date is not an official Audi confirmation. The reports point to March 2029 at the earliest, while sources cited by the coverage expect production could start in late April or early May.
One of the first SSP-based Audis
The A4 e-tron is expected to become one of the first models based on Volkswagen Group’s Scalable Systems Platform. VW originally described SSP as a unified electric, digital and highly scalable architecture intended to reduce the number of technical platforms used across its brands.
The programme is also linked to software work with Rivian. Volkswagen says the software-defined vehicle architecture developed by the RV Tech joint venture will be deployed in future electric vehicles based on SSP. Integrating that software, electronics and vehicle hardware adds another layer to an already complex group programme.
Sedan and Avant versions are expected
Recent reports describe the future A4 e-tron as a sedan and an Avant estate. Audi has not released official images or confirmed battery capacity, range, output, pricing or launch markets.
The delay could leave Audi without a direct electric rival to the upcoming BMW i3 and Mercedes-Benz’s next electric C-Class for longer than planned. Audi currently uses the MEB platform for the Q4 e-tron and PPE for the A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron.
Volkswagen first said in 2021 that production of the first SSP vehicles would start from 2026. If the A4 e-tron becomes an early SSP model in 2029, the platform’s rollout would be roughly three years later than that initial target.
The reported reasons include technical problems, lengthy internal coordination and pressure to reduce costs. Volkswagen is also said to be simplifying the architecture and increasing component sharing across future models.
Reference image: Audi MediaCenter. The photograph does not show the future A4 e-tron.
