A few days ago, Volkswagen Kanche learned from relevant channels that Audi A1 and Q2 models will be officially discontinued after the end of the product cycle, and there will be no successor models. This means that the entry-level models of the Audi lineup will become A3 and Q3 models.
Audi CEO Marcus Dusman shared the news in an interview with foreign media, saying: "We have decided not to produce the A1 and there will be no follow-up to the Q2. We've also repurposed Audi into a premium brand, limiting our range of models."
The Audi Q2 was launched in 2016 as the brand's smallest SUV, sharing the MQB platform with Volkswagen T-Roc and Skoda Kamiq. In 2018, Audi expanded the series, adding a SQ2 performance flagship model and launching a long-wheelbase Q2L for China, which also has a pure electric version called the Q2L e-tron. The SUV underwent a mid-term makeover in 2020 and will continue to be in production for several years until it is discontinued from the series. The same goes for the second-generation A1, which debuted in 2018 and could have a makeover before being phased out.
The decision not to continue producing the A1 and Q2 series in the future allows Audi to turn funds to the development of electric vehicles and more profitable models, such as the upcoming Q6 e-tron. In terms of smaller models, the 2019 Al:ME concept has the potential to become the successor to the A2, although there is no official news yet.
Marcus-Dussmann's decision to bring Audi to market is in line with its main rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which have no products that are lower than compact cars. It will also help Audi to distance itself from Volkswagen and move closer to the Volkswagen Group's Porsche and Bentley brands in the high-end model range.
It is reported that Audi will launch its last new model powered by an internal combustion engine in 2026.