Audi changes its mind once again regarding the naming of its electric and combustion models

The four-ring brand based in Ingolstadt is set to once again implement changes to the naming of its new vehicles, after a new nomenclature was introduced in 2023, under the leadership of Markus Duesmann, who was then the head of the brand. The new strategy set by Audi’s management at the time involved using odd numbers in the names of models with combustion engines and even numbers for electric ones, as a simple and quick method for customers to tell at a glance whether they were looking at a model with one or the other propulsion system.

Applying this new nomenclature meant, for example, that the new generation of the A4 would be called the A5, and the A6 would become the A7, thereby leaving the names A4 and A6 free for future electric saloons from the brand.

Less than two years after that decision, the Ingolstadt firm has now decided to put an end to that new nomenclature. This was announced by Marco Schubert, member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG, who justified this change of heart by stating that it reflects the wishes expressed by many of its customers and the feedback received over this time from the brand’s dealerships worldwide.

The slowdown in electric model sales may have motivated this change

Therefore, from now on, Audi’s new strategy will focus on differentiation based on the vehicle’s dimensions and its market positioning, regardless of the propulsion system it uses. The letter A will continue to be reserved for the brand’s saloons, while the Q will designate all SUVs. The numbers from one to eight, meanwhile, will reflect what type of vehicle we are looking at in terms of size, regardless of whether it is an electric or combustion model. This makes it possible for the same model to be available in combustion or fully electric versions, distinguished from one another by the TFSI, TDI or e-tron suffix.

Finally, it should be noted that anyone hoping the current combustion-engined A5 will be renamed the A4 should abandon those hopes. Audi has explained that this policy change will not entail any retroactive change to the names of models already in its current range, only in future ones. This means that the new generation of the combustion-engined A6, due to be presented next March, will keep its name and will not be called the A7.