Audi Eyes Revival of a Discontinued SUV with U.S. Production
When asked about its upcoming products, an Audi spokesperson gave an unexpected response.
Is Audi considering a comeback for a discontinued electric vehicle once produced in a now-closed factory? Rumors and reports suggest the German automaker may revive the Q8 e-tron—or a possible successor—and shift production from the shuttered Brussels facility to the new plant being developed by Scout Motors in the United States.
Last December, Audi officially announced the closure of its Belgian factory, which had produced the Q8 e-tron and its Sportback version. As one of Audi’s earliest electric vehicles, the Q8 e-tron was due for an update or replacement. However, unlike Audi’s latest EVs, it was built on a platform originally designed for combustion engines. In contrast, Audi’s newer electric models—such as those built on the PPE platform for the Q6 e-tron and the MEB platform under the Q4 e-tron—feature much more flexible architectures.
A New Q8 E-Tron Needs a New Home
Due to lower-than-expected sales, Audi faced the challenge of retooling the production line for the Q8 e-tron—and potentially another model—to maintain efficiency. Ultimately, Audi decided against investing in the updates, and after failing to find a buyer for the facility, the company shut down the plant earlier this year.
Although the Q8 e-tron models didn’t exactly fly off the shelves, they still posted respectable sales figures in the U.S. Audi sold 7,936 units—only about 2,000 fewer than the A3 and roughly 2,400 less than the gasoline-powered Q8. In fact, the Q8 e-tron outsold several other Audi models, including the A7 and A8, despite an overall dip in the brand’s sales.
What about relocating production from Brussels to South Carolina? From European sprouts to Southern cotton fields. According to Automotive News last month, Audi might shift the new Q8 e-tron’s production to the Blythewood facility currently under construction by Scout Motors. Alternatively, production could move to Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant, where the ID.4 is made, or even to a new facility—especially since Porsche’s Cayenne is expected to use the PPE platform. Manufacturing multiple models from different brands at the same U.S. plant could help Audi avoid tariffs and improve cost efficiency.
Audi’s Corporate Response Isn’t a Straight “No”
The HARJA contacted Audi to inquire about the chances of relocating production and launching a new Q8 e-tron or its successor. While they anticipated a standard “no,” Audi’s reply was unexpectedly open:
“All future production possibilities are under review, but no decisions have been made yet,” an Audi spokesperson told The HARJA in an email. In automotive PR speak, that’s a lot closer to a ‘maybe’ than a definitive ‘no.’
While this response isn’t a reason to rush to your dealer just yet, it does open the door to some intriguing possibilities. One of those is that the Q8 e-tron may indeed return in some shape or form. We’ve reached out to Audi for more details about the Q8 e-tron’s role in the brand’s future plans and will share updates as soon as we learn more.
