German luxury carmaker Audi has announced its new corporate strategy – ‘Vorsprung 2030’ – which essentially means Head Start 2030. With this new strategy, Audi has announced a definitive timeline for the brand’s transition to electric mobility. Audi has announced that, from 2026, it will only launch vehicles that are equipped with electric drive systems. The company has also said that it will gradually phase out the production of its internal combustion engines between now and 2033. That said, Audi will, of course, continue to service these vehicles throughout their lifespan. Audi’s new corporate strategy has been designed around the theme “Vorsprung Durch Technik”, which is the company’s long-standing tagline and means Progress through Technology.

Audi has also announced that the group’s software arm, CARIAD, will be playing an important role in the 2030 strategy. It will be developing a scalable software platform with a standardized operating system and cloud connectivity for all Volkswagen Group brands by 2025. This new strategy will see dramatic changes in not just the company’s portfolio of cars, but also in the way Audi operates as a brand. In essence, Audi’s existing portfolio of ICE cars like the A4 and A6 could see one last generation update before development on ICE platforms completely ceases from 2026.