The future of the Audi plant in Brussels could involve the production of a luxury electric SUV

Following the decision to move production of the next-generation Q8 e-tron from Europe to Mexico, the German manufacturer is now analysing which viable alternatives remain to keep its Brussels plant active. According to German media reports this week, there is a possibility that a luxury electric SUV of considerable size will be built in Brussels in the future, positioned in Audi’s range above the Q8 e-tron. Although initially everything pointed to this model being assembled at the Audi plant in Neckarsulm, the recent rise in demand for combustion engines could change the four-ring brand’s plans, which would ultimately dedicate its German plant to producing the renewed A5 and A7 with combustion engines.

The production of this luxury electric SUV, which will probably be called the Q10 e-tron (Audi uses odd numbers for combustion models, so Q9 e-tron is not an option), is not the only solution under consideration. According to the latest reports, Audi is also evaluating the possibility of producing batteries and other components in Brussels for the models assembled at its German plants.

Audi plans to make a final decision on the future of the Brussels plant before next November, as that is when the traditional planning round of the Volkswagen Group takes place, allocating production of the various models to plants for the next five years. This June will, on the other hand, be decisive for the final decision. This same week a working group from the Belgian government will send Audi a package of measures on how and with what financial support the plant could be kept open. In addition, further talks between both parties are planned for mid-June.

Finding a good exit for the Brussels plant will not be simple

At this point it is also worth recalling that, as we have already noted on previous occasions, the Brussels plant is currently not profitable for Audi. With an annual production capacity of 120,000 vehicles, the Belgian plant is the smallest of Audi’s plants in Europe. Moreover, its actual production volume has been well below this limit in recent years. According to the latest reports, only 37,400 vehicles left the Audi Brussels plant in 2023, less than a third of its production capacity. Although this figure was affected by the launch of the renewed Q8 e-tron, it should not be forgotten that sales of this electric SUV in 2022 fell well short of 50,000 units, to be precise around 47,900.

Although Audi wants to avoid closing one of its European plants, reaching a final decision will not be easy for the company since countless variables must be weighed. On top of all this, it is also unclear whether an even more exclusive SUV, more than five metres long, can generate the demand needed to make better use of the Brussels plant’s production capacity, even with global exports.