“By 2027, we want to offer an all-electric vehicle in our portfolio in all core segments.”

Hoffmann: We will be expanding our e-portfolio in the next five years: by 2027, we want to offer an all-electric vehicle in our portfolio in all core segments. Then, according to current product planning, we will have more than 20 e-models in our range. That is our clear goal. We are thus demonstrating that we are continuing to systematically advance the transformation to electric mobility. And we are doing so in a way that is typical for Audi – with technological strength and innovative power.

At the same time, we are using synergies within the Volkswagen Group to further optimize the cost‑effectiveness of our electric models. The new Premium Platform Electric, or PPE for short, which we developed together with Porsche, is based precisely on these principles. It is the basis for the next generation of fully electric Audi models with an 800-volt system, a charging capacity of up to 270 kW and a highly attractive design. With the PPE, we are also bringing the new E³ electronics architecture, developed in collaboration with CARIAD, into series production. Among the new features on board are processors with significantly improved computing power, 5G connectivity, a standardized infotainment platform with a third-party app store, an extensive range of new driver assist systems and, of course, over-the-air updates. The second half of the year will see PPE start at Audi with the Q6 e-tron model series.

Hoffmann: Amid all our efforts to achieve the greatest possible synergies and economies of scale, we will always keep our focus on the unmistakability of an Audi model that our customers want to experience. That is why whenever we develop a new vehicle, we take great care to carve out the Audi DNA. It can be found in many aspects, from the quality of the interior, through driving characteristics such as lateral and longitudinal acceleration or steering behavior, to the tuning of driver assist systems.

At the same time, we are also focused on evolving the Audi DNA for the future. This can already be experienced today, for example, with our electric quattro drive or the recuperation behavior of our electric models. The next step is automated driving. How does a self-driving model steer into a curve? How dynamically or smoothly does it cruise down the highway and change lanes? We are working on all these questions at full speed – for the fully electric and self-driving Audi models of the future.