Just a few months ago, the Audi A8 sedan seemed on the brink of death. But now a new report has it coming for a new generation. But it may have to coexist with Porsche, because parent company Volkswagen is having a bit of a financial crisis at the moment.
It’s coming, but don’t expect it to show up for at least a few more years.
Next-Gen A8 Now More Certain Than Before
2022 – 2026 Audi A8 exteriorAudi
Last March, news surfaced saying Audi had closed order books for the A8 sedan in Germany. The news hit hard because if it couldn’t sell its flagship in its home market, could it make a go of it anywhere else? At the time, Audi USA confirmed it would remain on sale in the US for a while but couldn’t comment on the car’s future.
Now Audi is planning to build a new generation of the car, but it will need a new home. Automotive News reports the Audi A8 will move from its Neckarsulm plant to one in Leipzig to run on the same line as the next Porsche Panamera. That would happen no earlier than 2030.
The move would put the A8 and the Panamera on the same platform for the first time. The current A8 uses the VW Group’s MLB Evo platform, along with the previous-generation Porsche Cayenne and last-generation Audi Q7. This time, the two would likely share a new architecture.
It’s good news for the A8, though if there’s not a new car before 2030, sales may slow even further. The current car was introduced in early 2017 and went on sale later that year. Its last major facelift was for model year 2022. Meanwhile, both BMW and Mercedes-Benz have comprehensively enhanced their own flagships, the 7 Series and S-Class, within the last year. That puts them generations ahead on tech and comfort features compared with the Audi.
Could This Mean Another Audi Plant Closes?
2022 – 2026 Audi A8 interiorAudi
The change could put Audi’s Neckarsulm factory at risk of closure. Across the VW Group, job cuts and plant closures are happening as the automaker’s divisions work to save money and boost profits. The plant is one of Audi’s oldest and most prestigious, currently home to the A5, A6, and A8, and employs more than 15,000 people.
“Neckarsulm has extensive industrial expertise and an impressive history. But tradition alone does not guarantee a future,” Audi CEO Gernot Doellner told a workers’ assembly at the plant, Automotive News reported.
Audi reported just 1,406 A8 sales in the US last year, down 14% from the year before. Compare that to 18,381 sales of the Q7 to see where the brand’s customers are headed. The report says Audi sold only 966 A8s, including the S8 performance model, in Europe through August 2026.
The A8 has been Audi’s flagship luxury sedan since 1994. The all-aluminum sedan replaced the Audi V8 and offered a series of V6 and V8 engines and even a W12. Successive generations have made the car more refined and more luxurious, but it has always played second fiddle to BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
2022 – 2026 Audi A8 exteriorAudi
The A8 desperately needs a refresh if Audi wants it to be competitive. And right now, there isn’t exactly a lot of cash flow in VW Group to afford some big investments in a low-selling segment.
Putting it on the same platform as the Porsche Panamera will almost guarantee the A8 some worthy upgrades. But if it takes another four years to happen, buyers may have already moved on. And so might Audi.
Source: Automotive News
